RESTRICTED
FI: DP BHU/75/008/1
December 1978

BHUTAN

SURVEY OF THE WATERS OF BHUTAN PHYSIOGRAPHY AND FISHERIES POTENTIAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A report prepared for the Feasibility Study for Development of Inland Fisheries Project

by

G.P. Dubey
Fisheries Development Adviser


The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

SUMMARY
The rivers and lakes of Bhutan are described in detail in this report and data is given on temperatures and water quality and other factors which affect the fisheries potential. Present fishing effort and fisheries management and regulations are described.
Fish culture experiments already carried out indicate a promising potential for development of the fisheries of Bhutan to provide more protein food for the population and for sport fishing for the tourist trade. There is some existing culture of fish but much of the potential has not yet been exploited.
Recommendations for developing the fisheries include the establishment of a government fisheries unit with trained staff at various levels, marketing studies, training of fishermen in various fish culture practices at the local level and provision of government financial assistance for the development of fish culture operations.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1978

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

2. PHYSIOLOGICAL SURVEY

2.1. Mountain systems of Bhutan

2.1.1 Sub-Himalaya or Himalayan Foothills
2.1.2 Inner Himalayas or Middle Ranges
2.1.3 Great Himalayas

2.2 River System of Bhutan

2.3 Natural Lakes

2.4 Climate and Rainfall

3. AGRICULTURE

4. NATURAL FISHERIES

4.1 Physico-Chemical Study of Waters

4.2 Fish Species of Bhutan Waters

4.2.1 Stocks available

5. EXISTING FISHERIES INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACTIVITIES

5.1 Fishermen Population

5.2 Fisheries Management

5.2.1 Personnel
5.2.2 Existing regulations
5.2.3 Field and Laboratory Facilities
5.2.4 Propagation of brown trout

5.3 Fish Markets

6. POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT

6.1 Experimental studies

6.2 Rice-Cum-Fish Culture and Cage Culture

7. CONCLUSIONS

8. RECOMMENDATIONS

Appendix 1 DETAILS OF LAKE HO KO TSO

Appendix 2 ANGLING LICENCE FORM ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT

Appendix 3 SELECTED SITES WITH POTENTIAL FOR POND CONSTRUCTION

Appendix 4 DETAILS OF EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED IN PILOT PONDS AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES

LIST OF TABLES

1. Atmospheric Temperature Data at Four Different Altitudes

2. Average Annual Rainfall at Thimbu (for the Period 1972–75) and in Nine Other Places in Bhutan (for the Period 1956–71)

3. Physico-Chemical Water Quality of Bhutan Rivers

4. Distribution and Availability of Various species of Fish in Bhutan

5. Market Situation for Dried Fish in Bhutan

6. Market Situation for Fresh Fish in Bhutan


Figure 1 RIVER SYSTEM OF BHUTAN