The Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department has been conferred the SKOCH Gold Award-2025, one of India’s most prestigious honours in governance and innovation, for its groundbreaking work in conserving the critically endangered Golden Mahaseer through a successful captive breeding programme.
The award ceremony took place on 20th September 2025 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, where Director-cum-Warden of Fisheries, Vivek Chandel, and Assistant Director (Fisheries), Dr. Som Nath, received the award on behalf of the department.
CM Sukhu extended his heartfelt congratulations to the department, describing the award as a proud moment for the state. “This national recognition by the SKOCH Group reaffirms our government’s commitment to biodiversity conservation through innovation and scientific planning,” said the Chief Minister.
The award recognizes the department’s integrated conservation strategy for the Golden Mahaseer, a freshwater fish species symbolizing the rich aquatic biodiversity of the Himalayan rivers and designated as the State Fish of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
The Golden Mahaseer population in Himachal Pradesh had seen a sharp decline over the decades due to habitat loss from hydropower development, overfishing, and water pollution. In response, the Fisheries Department launched a scientifically driven captive breeding programme, centred around the Machhyal Mahaseer Farm (established in 2016), which had struggled for years to scale up production.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhu, a special campaign was launched in 2023, in collaboration with ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Bhimtal—India’s only cold-water fisheries research institute. Director Vivek Chandel and the nodal officer personally assessed the gaps and led a series of targeted reforms, including:
-
Advanced training in Golden Mahaseer breeding
-
Improved dietary protocols
-
Enhanced disease management
These interventions yielded impressive outcomes in FY 2024–25, with the farm producing 87,000 fingerlings, up from just 5,000 in previous years. A major restocking campaign was also launched, releasing 34,500 fingerlings into natural habitats: 20,000 in Pong Reservoir and 14,500 in Gobind Sagar Reservoir.
The State Government is now extending this initiative to a new fish farm in Sunni, Shimla district, aiming to ensure sustainable fingerling production and further strengthen conservation efforts.
Golden Mahaseer is not only ecologically significant but also supports eco-tourism and local livelihoods. Over 3,700 anglers visited Himachal in 2024–25, highlighting the species’ appeal among sport fishers. Its presence in rivers such as the Beas, Sutlej, and their tributaries, and in major reservoirs, underscores its ecological importance.
The fish is also nutritionally rich and supports the income of local fishing communities. With fingerling production expected to cross 1 lakh in the coming year, the Fisheries Department’s work has become a model for other states and countries grappling with aquatic species decline.
The award comes amid broader achievements in the fisheries sector. Under current leadership:
-
Total fish production rose from 17,025.97 metric tonnes (2022–23) to 19,019.83 metric tonnes (2024–25)
-
Reservoir fish production increased from 549.35 MT to 748.76 MT during the same period
Director Vivek Chandel credited the success to the “visionary leadership” of Chief Minister Sukhu and the “relentless efforts” of departmental officers and field staff.
Plans are underway to integrate habitat restoration, enforce fishing regulations, and deepen community collaboration to ensure the long-term survival of the Golden Mahaseer and sustainability of Himachal’s fisheries sector.
