Considering the present status of fishculture and coldwater fisheries, their potential for and constraints to development, the Mission submits the following recommendations:
The proposed Five-Year Development Plan aims at upgrading the two existing fish culture demonstration units, at Sarbhang and Samchi, with a view to producing one million fingerlings to be distributed free of cost to the fish-farmers. In addition, it proposes to establish four new fishculture demonstration units, at Diapham, Gaylegphug, Chirang and Samchi. Considering the constraints to the development of aquaculture in Bhutan, the Mission judges the targets set for the development of warmwater fishculture to be very optimistic. At this early stage of development, all available resources should be spent to upgrade the existing two demonstration units and to establish a central Warmwater Fish Seed Production and Demonstration Centre at Gaylegphug, in southern Bhutan. The Gaylegphug centre should act as the national centre for aquaculture research, development and training. This centre is also expected to produce the fingerlings required for the fifth Five-Year Development Plan period (Appendix 10). The Mission has identified a suitable site at Gaylegphug for this centre, and has submitted a technical report along with engineering design for hatchery, ponds, etc. (Appendix 11).
The Mission agrees with the Royal Government's plan for improving the two trout hatcheries, at Ha and Serbithang, with a view to producing 0.5 million fingerlings for stocking the high altitude rivers and lakes. This would help develop sport fishing, which in turn would promote tourism. The Mission, however, recommends that:
(i) the improved facilities also be used for experimental work on induced breeding of indigenous fish species, such as mahaseer (Tor tor, Tor putitora), alsa (Schizothorax/ Orienus sp.) and katle (Acrossochilus hexagonalepis);
(ii) to ensure higher rate of survival, these water bodies should be stocked with bigger fingerlings, for which necessary facilities should be provided in the two hatcheries;
(iii) to conserve the coldwater fishery resources, the Bhutan Fishing Rules (1974) should be strictly enforced, and
(iv) new broodstock of brown trout should be imported with a view to rejuvenating the present stock which was introduced in Bhutan nearly 50 years ago.
The fishery development sub-sector has only four projects, two trout hatcheries and two warmwater fishculture demonstration units. The present staff are not well qualified to carry out the planned fish culture development activities. For the efficient and effective implementation of the Five-Year Development Plan, the Mission strongly recommends the establishment of a fisheries unit under the Directorate of Animal Husbandry. Recognizing the need for trained manpower, the Royal Government has proposed nine additional posts in the fifth Five-Year Development Plan. The Mission is of the opinion that the proposed additional manpower does not fully take into account the anticipated increased work load with the establishment of a Warmwater Fish Seed Production and Demonstration Centre, as well as the proposed activities in coldwater fisheries.
Taking into account all the activities under the Fisheries Development Programme and the workload involved, the Mission recommends the establishment of a Fisheries Development Unit, under the Animal Husbandry Department, with a total staff complement of 51 (Appendix 12) The additional staff required under various categories are shown in Appendix 13.
Fresh fish is usually imported from India in baskets containing ice. Because of long-distance travel, rough handling and inadequate chilling, the quality has deteriorated by the time they are sold in the markets in Bhutan. The quality could be greatly improved by using insulated containers with ice. While interviewing the fish dealers, the Mission noted with interest their eagerness to accept insulated containers for transporting fresh fish.
At present, unlike agriculture and animal husbandry, fishculture does not qualify for Government credit facilities. The Mission recommends that the Royal Government of Bhutan make provision for generous credit facilities for the fish farmers. This is expected to encourage rapid development of aquaculture in the private sector.
Bhutan has the potential for the development of both warmwater fishculture and cold-water fisheries. However, the country does not have the necessary infrastructure, physical facilities and trained manpower. The Royal Government should explore the possibilities of obtaining multilateral/bilateral assistance to develop the fishery resources of the country. To begin, the Mission recommends that the Royal Government request technical assistance from UNDP/FAO for the development of warmwater fishculture in the southern part of Bhutan. In this connexion, the Mission has prepared a project document entitled “Establishment of a Central Warmwater Fish Seed Production and Demonstration Centre” (see Appendix 11).
