ANANTNAG: Each morning, Mohammad Afzal sits by the Lidder at Batengoo, Anantnag with his fishing rod and net. He casts his net into the glacier-fed waters and watches it sink and then resurface dripping and nearly empty. He repeats the performance with little luck. By the time the sun is high, the fish in his basket would not fill a small bag.
There was a time when a day like this would have ended with around 10 kilograms of fish. He would have a basket full of Khont (Schizothorax plagiostomus), Chush (S. labiatus) and Chirruh (S. esocinus), the native snow trouts that have fed Kashmiri households for centuries. Today, Afzal barely manages to catch even one kilogram.
“Earlier, we used to catch fish in large quantities. Indigenous fish were significantly more abundant, but their numbers have declined considerably over the years,” Afzal said, blaming the decline on increasing pollution and degrading water quality.
Fishermen across Kashmir are witnessing a steady decline in their catches as pollution, habitat deterioration and mounting pressure on river ecosystems endanger native fish populations and the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities.
Afzal’s experience reveals the concerns of fishermen throughout parts of Kashmir, who face increasingly meagre harvests and growing uncertainty over their future. For these communities, the declining availability of fish is not merely an environmental concern. It endangers household incomes, traditional occupations and a way of life passed down through generations.
The declining catch has become a source of growing anxiety for Afzal and other traditional fishing families across Kashmir, who have depended on the region’s rivers, streams and lakes for decades. What once provided a means of survival has increasingly become a fight for livelihood, driving many fishermen to rethink an occupation inherited from their ancestors.
A traditional livelihood under pressure
For Ghulam Nabi Gur, fishing is both an inherited occupation and his family’s main source of income. Having taken up the profession from his family, he remembers a time when fish were abundant and fishermen could make a living without spending long hours struggling for a catch.
“Native fish were far more common in those days. They were easier to catch because they were available in vast quantities. Today, even after spending hours fishing, the catch is minimal,” Nabi said.
He believes deteriorating water quality and pollution have contributed significantly to the difficulties faced by fishermen.
“Pollution and change in aquatic conditions have badly impacted our livelihood. Earlier, we could catch fish in good quantities. Now, it has become challenging to get a sufficient catch,” he said.
For families like Gur’s, the significant drop in fish production has direct economic consequences. Declining catches mean a loss of income, making it more and more difficult to meet household expenses and sustain a profession that has been passed down across generations.
Afzal explained that the reduction in fish has significantly affected the fishing community, and families are now opting for other jobs to sustain themselves. “Approximately 50 per cent of the people of our community have left this occupation and opted for other jobs. When there is no fish, how will you feed your family?” Afzal said.
For many, the problem goes beyond declining earnings. As younger generations seek more secure employment, the fishing traditions and skills handed down over generations are slowly fading.
Gulzar Ahmad, another fisherman, believes pollution is among the principal reasons behind the decline in fish populations.
“My meagre earnings have discouraged my children from taking up this profession. I am now the only fisherman left in my family. My children have chosen not to continue this work. I too would have shifted to another trade, but I am deeply attached to my profession,” Gulzar said.
He describes the current situation as being “on the verge of extinction.” The loss of livelihood caused by the collapse in fish populations has forced many families, for whom catching fish had been a generational calling, to look for other ways to survive.
His experience highlights how environmental damage goes beyond the loss of fish, influencing employment choices, family security and the future of traditional occupations.
Why the fish are disappearing
The Lidder River, which runs across Pahalgam in Anantnag district, has historically sustained diverse fish populations and supported local fishing communities. However, research shows a significant decline in its native fish, especially the Schizothorax group, over the past three to four decades.
Several field studies point to the growing impact of pollution and habitat deterioration, with riverbanks largely being used as garbage dumps. Pollution has also drastically damaged breeding grounds, killing many native fish species.
These losses are especially concerning because snow trout are important bio-indicators and sentinel species of Indian Himalayan ecosystems, and they contribute significantly to the region's nutritional and livelihood security. Increasing anthropogenic pressure therefore threatens both aquatic biodiversity and the communities traditionally dependent on the Lidder.
The valley of Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with an extensive network of rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, canals and other water bodies, which sustain a variety of endemic and exotic freshwater fish species.
According to research, untreated sewage, household waste, habitat deterioration and riverbed mining are some of the factors that may harm fish habitats and endanger freshwater biodiversity. The loss of aquatic habitats has further intensified concerns over the survival of fish fauna in the region, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of freshwater biodiversity and its conservation.
A prized river in decline
For fishermen such as Mohammad Afzal and Ghulam Nabi, who have traditionally fished in the Lidder River, the decline in catch over the years has become a mounting concern.
The Lidder is a prestigious cold-water river that originates from the Kolahoi Glacier. It is home to important aquatic fauna and serves as a primary source of employment for the fishing community.
According to research conducted by F A Bhat in 2013, the river supports a variety of fish species, both exotic and indigenous. These include brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), Khont (Schizothorax plagiostomus), Chush (S. labiatus), Chirruh (S. esocinus), Nayid (Glyptosternum reticulatum), Tethur (Crossocheilus diplochilus) and Gurun, a small loach (Triplophysa kashmirensis). Among the snow trout species, Khont was found in the largest numbers, followed by Chush and Chirruh.
Of these, the brown trout holds a special place. Introduced to Kashmir by the British at the turn of the 20th century, it has become the valley’s most prized fish, sought after by anglers from across the world and fetching a premium in local markets. It thrives only in cold, clean, well-oxygenated water, which makes its presence a measure of a river’s health. Rivers such as the Lidder built their reputation on it.
The native snow trouts carry a different kind of value. Khont, Chush and Chirruh are endemic to Himalayan waters and have long been staples on Kashmiri tables and the backbone of traditional fishing. Khont, the most abundant, is a favourite in local kitchens, while Chirruh is among the larger snow trouts and is valued for its size. The smaller species, Nayid, a hill-stream catfish, Tethur and the Gurun loach, are less important as food but form part of the river’s web of life. Gurun is now listed as critically endangered.
A survey conducted to examine the effects of anthropogenic activities on the water quality of the Lidder and the fish living in it found that the river’s ecology is changing, adversely affecting the distribution of aquatic fauna, particularly fish.
The survey identified urbanisation, uncontrolled tourism and excessive hotel construction in the river’s catchment area as factors negatively affecting fish assemblages and diversity. The fish population in the Lidder has been declining at an alarming rate, particularly among the valuable endemic Schizothorax snow trouts.
The decline is not limited to the Lidder. Other rivers in the region are also facing threats from human activities. Some fishermen, such as Sajad and Mudasir, have continued fishing in the Veshow River because of its accessibility and their familiarity with it, having fished the same streams for decades.
Veshow River a growing concern
The Veshow River in Kulgam, a significant tributary of the Jhelum, is witnessing a severe decline in its rich fish species due to escalating pollution. This deterioration is gravely impacting the river’s aquatic biodiversity and particularly threatens its trout population.
According to locals, the Veshow, which originates from the pristine Kausarnag Lake and merges with the Jhelum at Sangam, faces intense water quality degradation. Unchecked pollution and extensive mining are the primary culprits, creating a perilous situation for the river’s aquatic life. The trout, once abundant, are now nearing extinction.
Research studies in 2019 and subsequently in 2025 found that the Veshow is a cold-water river that provides a habitat for cold-water aquatic organisms. An analysis of selected locations along the river identified six fish species, most of them belonging to the family Cyprinidae: Khont (Schizothorax plagiostomus), Sattar gaad (S. curvifrons), Chirruh (S. esocinus), the common snow trout (S. richardsonii), Gurun (Triplophysa kashmirensis) and Tethur (Crossocheilus diplochilus).
However, as the research shows, fish in the Veshow remain under constant threat. Anthropogenic activities, including illegal extraction of sand and boulders, sewage disposal, bridge construction leading to habitat fragmentation, and overfishing, pose significant threats to fish populations.
The study also found that the water quality of the Veshow is gradually changing and moving towards unsuitable levels. Among the species found in the river, only Khont (S. plagiostomus) showed an ability to withstand challenging habitat conditions compared with the other species inhabiting the same river at similar or different locations.
Farooq Ahmad, a resident of Kulgam, said the river’s condition had changed considerably over the years.
“The water of this river used to be very clear, but nowadays it is in a deteriorated state,” he said. Farooq blames residents for polluting the river by dumping diapers and domestic waste. “People use the river as a dumping site for garbage. Drainage pipes and toilets are also contributing to the river’s contamination.”
Fishermen in the area say these pressures, combined with declining fish availability, have made their work increasingly difficult.
“We have been suffering immensely because of the alarming decline in native fish populations. We are considering quitting this as our livelihood, and the future of our families is at stake,” said Sajad Ahmad Reshi, a fisherman from Kulgam.
Fishing without valid licences has emerged as another concern, with the use of nets and other methods posing a further threat to the already declining fish population. Members of the fishing community claim that illegal fishing practices have significantly damaged fish stocks.
In addition, illegal mining is causing further damage to river ecosystems, threatening aquatic habitats and putting the survival of native fish species at greater risk.
The fishermen said they had repeatedly approached the concerned authorities and appealed for action, but their pleas had largely gone unheard. They urged the authorities to take concrete steps against pollution, illegal fishing and illegal mining before the situation worsens, stressing that their livelihoods, heritage and future depend on the protection and preservation of the Veshow.
A Fisheries Department report to the NGT blamed poor regulation by Geology and Mining for the Veshaw’s deterioration. It also noted that mining during the trout and snow trout breeding seasons is especially damaging.
According to Fisheries Department reply in the legislative assembly in February 2026, over 1,800 cases were recorded under the J&K Fisheries Act. These pertained to illegal fishing and other violations, illegal mining and extraction threatening aquatic habitats. The department has formed anti-poaching squads and intensified surveillance of vulnerable water bodies, it said.
Several research studies have pointed to illegal fishing and unsustainable fishing techniques have endangered the river ecosystems, which significantly impacts the overall ecological balance of nature. People using chemical sprays to capture fish in the river inflict considerable damage. This procedure kills a large number of fish, as well as some brood stock.
Recognizing this threat, a solid enforcement framework has been instituted at both Divisional and District levels. Special Anti-Poaching Teams are operational in all districts and conduct regular monitoring rounds, and targeted drives in vulnerable river stretches, the Fisheries Department claims.
Kashmir Times tried to get further details on the illegal fishing and the enforcement measures from the officials in the Fisheries department. After several calls there was no response. This report will be updated once they provide their version.
“It is deeply painful to watch the waters that have sustained generations of our families lose their ability to support us. We are not merely witnessing the decline of fish; we are also witnessing the gradual destruction of our traditional profession and the loss of our means of sustenance,” said Mudasir Ahmad, a fisherman from Pahloo, Kulgam.
Mudasir said fishing had been his livelihood since childhood and that the declining availability of fish had made it increasingly difficult to continue.
Anthropogenic Pressures and Pollution
Fisheries experts and scientists have expressed concern over the decline in fish populations and the growing abuse of aquatic resources in Jammu and Kashmir. They attribute the major causes to anthropogenic pressures, including indiscriminate fishing with nets and a lack of proper vigil by watch and ward staff.
They have also highlighted the release of domestic and agricultural waste into open waters, and the construction of hydroelectric projects with inefficient fish passes and ladders, which hamper the migration and feeding of important species.
No published study has measured the power project's impact on fish in the Lidder, but residents link it to a local decline. The Pahalgam Mini Hydroelectric project diverts West Lidder water to its turbines, and residents surveyed in the same study said trout readily found near the site before its construction are no longer seen. The river is also under growing pressure from declining streamflow, and in April 2026 the government said the project was generating only about 1 MW because of low water discharge.
However, a 2023 study of the Lidder's fish attributes their decline mainly to sewage, tourism, hotel discharge and illegal fishing, and does not mention the project.
“Domestic waste discharged into water bodies and the washing of vehicles in rivers and streams release pollutants such as diesel, oil and hydrocarbons, adversely affecting fish populations and aquatic biodiversity, particularly hill-stream species such as snow trout (Schizothoracids) and trouts (Salmonids),” said Dr Masood-ul-Hassan Balkhi, former Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, SKUAST-Kashmir.
Dr Balkhi said the situation calls for urgent intervention, stressing that scientists and the development departments of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir must join hands to restore depleted fish populations and protect aquatic resources.
“Scientists and development departments should join their heads and hands for the production of adequate quality seed material of all troubled fish species and stock them in depleted water resources across J&K, conduct extensive awareness programmes through the media about the importance of fish and aquatic resources for survival, and ensure implementation of legal provisions under the Fisheries Act and the Environmental Protection Act by the concerned agencies to curb this menace with an iron hand,” Balkhi said.
Science of declining fish populations
Kashmir’s rivers are more than flowing water. They sustain native fish populations, support aquatic biodiversity and provide livelihoods for traditional fishing communities.
Global research on freshwater ecosystems has shown that untreated sewage introduces organic matter and nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, into rivers and lakes. As organic matter decomposes, it consumes dissolved oxygen, which is essential for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. The effects of pollution extend beyond oxygen depletion. It can also interfere with fish reproduction, affect early developmental stages and harm the organisms that fish depend on for food. Collectively, these impacts threaten not only native fish populations but also the wider aquatic biodiversity of Kashmir’s rivers.
These pressures are particularly concerning for native fish that depend on specific environmental conditions to complete their life cycles.
Experts say the snow trouts of the genus Schizothorax are important components of Kashmir’s freshwater biodiversity and traditional fisheries. Their survival depends on suitable water quality, adequate dissolved oxygen, appropriate flow regimes and suitable spawning substrates. When these ecological requirements are compromised, fish populations may experience reduced recruitment, poor juvenile survival, habitat fragmentation and changes in species composition.
Professor Adnan Abubakr, Professor of Limnology at SKUAST-Kashmir, said the ecological degradation of rivers also carries direct socio-economic consequences for fishing communities.
“Reduced catches and changes in the availability of commercially important native species can diminish household income and make it increasingly difficult to sustain traditional fishing as a primary occupation. It is therefore essential to recognise that protecting river ecosystems and protecting fishing communities are interconnected responsibilities,” he said.
Protecting rivers means protecting livelihoods
The fishing sector in Kashmir, along with agriculture, plays a significant role in the region’s economy, together contributing to around 23 per cent of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021.
According to the Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir 2025–26, the livestock and fisheries sectors in Jammu & Kashmir have emerged as significant contributors to J&K economic growth, food security, and sustaining ecological stability. The fisheries sector has recorded progress, contributing to the region’s economy and food supply.
Fish production reached 29,400 tonnes in 2024–25, while 21,680 tonnes were produced up to November 2025. Trout farming was a major contributor to this production.
The agriculture, forestry and fisheries remain significant contributors to Jammu and Kashmir's economy. The latest available sectoral estimates for 2024–25, indicate that these activities contribute approximately 19.63 per cent of the Union Territory's Gross Value Added (GVA), while fishing and aquaculture represent 0.34 per cent.
The declining health of aquatic ecosystems thus carries wider economic and ecological implications, threatening fish diversity and the livelihood of fishing communities dependent on these water bodies._
According to research reports, the region’s fisheries form an important component of the national fisheries sector, with the Kashmir Valley being the largest producer of cold-water fish in the country. With a total fisherfolk population of 93,000, the sector remains an important source of livelihood for thousands of people who depend on these natural resources for their sustenance.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environmental activist, said pollution and illegal mining were among the concerns affecting native fish populations in Kashmir’s rivers and streams.
“The native fish population in Kashmir’s streams and rivers is declining rapidly due to pollution and illegal mining. This has significantly affected the fishing community, forcing many fishermen to seek alternative sources of livelihood,” said Raja Muzaffar Bhat.
Bhat emphasised that conservation efforts must recognise the close relationship between the environment and the people who depend on it.
“Conservation of native fish cannot be separated from the conservation of their habitats, and the conservation of those habitats cannot be separated from the welfare of the communities that depend on them,” he added.
For native fish, a recent Dal Lake study has recommended restocking native and endemic species, alongside controlling sewage and agricultural runoff.
Revival efforts for Kashmir’s prized trout have so far focused on brown trout, an exotic species introduced to Kashmir around 1900, rather than the native snow trout. Using ova imported from Denmark, the Fisheries Department reared fingerlings and approved about 2.5 lakh for release into cold-water streams, including the Lidder, and high-altitude lakes.
The success of this effort is yet to be measured.
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