To replenish the Dal Lake’s fish stocks, which are depleting due to the lake’s increased pollution levels and prevalent, illegal fish-catching methods, the department of fisheries has carried out stocking its waters with common carp. More than five lakh carp were introduced in the Dal waters, aimed at augmenting the fish stock in the lake and thereby maintaining fish supply from its waters. Taking to Kashmir Reader, Chief Project Officer, Gagribal, MM Bazaz said that common carp have been naturally breeding in the waters of this lake, but due to climatic changes, increased pollution and fishermen’s use of gill nets and other fixed gear, natural breeding in the waters has got hit. To counter this impact and maintain a healthy balance of these fish, the department annually stocks the waters with carp. Bazaz said that even though common carp (cyprinus carpio), an exotic but hardy species, grows well in this lake and has acclimatised to the climatic conditions of the Valley, yet pollution is taking a toll on its breeding. He said that if sufficient stocks are added annually to maintain balance in these waters, it does help the local fishermen improve their catch and therefore their earnings. The fisheries department introduced common carp, originally from China, into Kashmir’s waters in 1956 and is constantly improving their stocks. Bazaz said that they have been obtaining the seeding stock from the National Fish Seed Farm, Manasbal, where these fish are bred in a scientific manner. He said the farm also supplies stock to farmers in the private sector. The department, according to Bazaz, is trying its best to end the menace of the use of gill and fixed gears in the Dal waters that add to the depletion of carp stocks. Equipment used by some mischievous fishermen is confiscated, and even fines are imposed. Bazaz called for an appropriate management practice of catching fish so that the breed is maintained naturally in these waters.