<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">SORENG,:</span></b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">
The three-day Chirbirey River Fest commenced at Chirbirey, near Jorethang, on
Friday, with a focus on the conservation and protection of Sikkim’s rivers,
water bodies and aquatic life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Organised
by Sikkim Anglers’ Association (SAA) in collaboration with Department of
Fisheries, the festival aims to promote conservation through constructive
initiatives undertaken in convergence with the state government’s efforts and
the collective participation of the people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">The
first-of-its-kind festival in Sikkim was inaugurated in the presence of
Fisheries department advisor Em Prasad Sharma and other dignitaries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">The
three-day event features a range of initiatives focused on the conservation of
water bodies and aquatic life, along with activities related to art and
culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">SAA
president Dr S.K. Dewan said the Chirbirey River Fest was organised on a larger
scale this year with the objective of creating awareness about the importance
of conserving Sikkim’s rivers and rivulets and protecting its aquatic life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
added the SAA, established in 2002, had been involved in the protection and
conservation of Sikkim’s water bodies and aquatic life through various
initiatives. He added that the association had also conducted research on the
state’s water bodies and aquatic species over the years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Expressing
concern over the degradation of aquatic life in Sikkim’s rivers, Dewan stressed
the need to protect and conserve the state’s water bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">“If
we don’t think about saving our water bodies, the very existence of aquatic
life in Sikkim faces the risk of extinction. We must work collectively to
preserve our water bodies and aquatic life,” Dewan said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
also clarified that angling was commonly perceived as catching fish for
consumption, whereas the SAA promotes a catch-and-release practice after
necessary study and research.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Fisheries
secretary Roshni Rai said the Chirbirey River Fest aimed not only to promote
fisheries, rivers and aquatic life but also to create awareness about the rapid
degradation of aquatic species and the urgent need for their conservation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Highlighting
the decline in fish species in Sikkim, Rai said 48 species of fish had earlier
been recorded in the State, while recent studies had identified only 21 species
in its rivers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">She
described the decline as “drastic and alarming” and stressed the need for
urgent conservation measures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Rai
further said fish farming in Sikkim had witnessed positive growth and
development over the past decade. She added that trout farming and fish
production in the state had also recorded tremendous growth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">According
to Rai, the Fisheries department, which previously functioned under Animal
Husbandry department, was later made a separate department by the State
government. Since then, it has been implementing various initiatives and
schemes and providing loans and subsidy facilities to fish farmers to support
their growth and development.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Speaking
to media, Em Prasad Sharmasaid the Chirbirey River Fest was the first-of-its-kind
in Sikkim and carried greater significance as an initiative aimed at conserving
and protecting the State’s rivers and aquatic life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">Sharma
said the initiative also sought to promote fisheries and tourism in Sikkim
through angling culture, while encouraging the practice of “catch and release.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style","serif"">He
emphasised the importance of protecting aquatic life while simultaneously
promoting fisheries and sustainable angling practices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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