CHITRAL: In a late-night operation Monday, the Fisheries Department of Chitral apprehended an individual engaged in illegal trout fishing in Garam Chashma river.
Acting on a tip-off from the local community, Supervisor Fardad Hussain along with field staff Iqbaluddin caught the poacher red-handed using illegal nets in the Garam Chashma River at Dua.
A formal challan was issued on the spot, and the case has been forwarded for further legal proceedings, said the Fishries Department.
The department reiterated its commitment to combating illegal fishing activities. Officials emphasized that no leniency would be shown in such cases, ensuring strict enforcement to protect the region’s aquatic resources.
The department also appealed to the public to support its efforts in preserving and sustainably managing the local fisheries.
It may be mentioned here that the huge potential of trout farming has not been exploited by the department in Chitral.
British officers had stashed sperms of trout and troutlings into the transparent and cool waters of Garam Chashma, Kalash and Golen valleys in 1930s but no effort was made since then to promote the trout farming in Chitral.
