Illegal fishing and environmental loss threaten Manipur fish populations

Imphal: Illegal fishing is killing Manipur's rivers. Poachers use poisonous chemicals, explosives, and electric currents to harvest fish. These destructive methods hit hardest during the May and June breeding season. Local environmentalists warn that this activity threatens to ruin the state's aquatic ecosystems for good.

Native species are vanishing. The list of threatened fish includes the state fish, Khabak, as well as the Pengba Tharak, which locals call the Hilsa of Manipur. Other disappearing species include the Striped Snakehead, Guntea Loach, and Catfish. Environmentalist Khangembam Shamungou noted the severity of the loss. He said, "Several fish species once commonly found in Manipur's water bodies have either become rare or disappeared altogether."

The trouble goes beyond just fishing. Wetlands and small water bodies are shrinking, while climate change and agricultural runoff further degrade the water quality. The loss of these fish also cuts into Meetei cultural traditions. These species play a key role in weddings and social rituals. As they get harder to find, they become too expensive for most families to purchase for these ceremonies.

Conservationists are pushing for better enforcement of current fishing laws. They want the government to protect breeding grounds and restart community-led conservation efforts. Rapid urban growth has wiped out the old practice of keeping fish in community ponds, leaving native species with nowhere left to hide.