An agreement has been reached between Rajapur and Tikapur municipalities to declare a fish conservation area for the sustainable conservation of fish.
What you should know
Sattighat in Karnali has been declared a fish sanctuary. Sattighat and the surrounding area, located on the border of Rajapur and Tikapur municipalities, have been declared the first 'fish sanctuary area' in the country.
An agreement has been reached between Rajapur and Tikapur municipalities to declare a fish sanctuary area for sustainable conservation of fish. Rajapur Mayor Dipesh Tharu and Tikapur Mayor Ramlal Dagaura Tharu signed an 8-point agreement.
The fish sanctuary area was declared after the mayors of both municipalities signed the agreement on Wednesday. The area from Rajapur-3, Dakshin Tediya to Chhedia Ghat in Ward No. 4 and from Tikapur-8, Phanta to Arnhawa Ghat in the same ward have been declared a fish sanctuary area. Fishing has been banned in the designated areas.
15 groups of general public living in the Karnali coastal area are playing a special role in fish conservation. 13 under Rajapur Municipality and 2 under Tikapur in Kailali are monitoring illegal activities and spreading public awareness about fish conservation.
The declaration was made based on Section 18 of the Aquatic Wildlife Act of Nepal 2017, the Aquatic Wildlife and Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Act of Tikapur Municipality 2076, and the Aquatic Wildlife and Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Act of Rajapur Municipality 2082.
The need for the fish sanctuary declaration area, its long-term conservation strategy, and the refinement of this area based on the wishes of the community, both local levels will assume the role of monitoring and conservation of the river co-management groups and create a municipal-level mechanism to register and lead these groups for their strength and sustainability, and prohibit activities such as fishing, using pesticides and current, and mining stones and sand within the mentioned fish sanctuary.
Rajapur Municipality Mayor Dipesh Tharu said that fishing can be done in a systematic manner outside the fish sanctuary area. ‘By making this area a center for fish conservation There is a plan to bring in tourists,' he said. 'For this, both municipalities will move forward by making procedures and making fish conservation systematic.'
Tikapur Municipality Chief Ramlal Dagoura Tharu said that compared to the past, fewer fish are found in the river these days. 'Fishing using poison, explosives, and nets has increased,' he said. 'There is a possibility that fish will disappear after 50 years.' He said that a protected area has been declared to protect the endangered fish.
