09/09/2023
Wular Lake: Tales of Fishing Adventures
Wular Lake, located in Bandipora Kashmir, is the largest freshwater lake in India and one of the largest in Asia. Covering an area of 30- 189 square kilometres, it provides employment opportunities, including tourism, chestnut harvesting and fishing, attracting people from almost every district of Kashmir. Some come for passion, while others rely on it for their livelihood.
Wular Lake is homefor many types of birds like ducks, shorebirds, geese, and cranes. Because of it's biodiversity values, an international organization called Ramsar recognized Wular Lake as a special and significant place in 1990.
Its water is clear like a mirror reflecting the brilliant blue sky. It’s not only its beauty that drew people here , but it is the opportunity for a plentiful catch that brought fishermen from every part of Kashmir to visit.
Every year, the people of Kashmir eagerly wait for the arrival of fishing season at Wular Lake. Family and friends come together, to take part in the fishing.
Ishfaq Ahmad from Anantnag shared, "when i have no work to do, i come here for fishing. It gives me peace and time for self-reflection."
Mohammad Akbar from Ganderbal said, "i find no fishes like the ones in Wular and my customers say that Wular fishes has a unique taste."
However, there's concern about the lake's deteriorating condition. Ab Majeed a local resident expressed, "previous generations were careful about maintaining the lake's cleanliness and the environment, but sadly, our generation and the new one don't prioritize the safety of the water and environment. This has led to a decline in fish numbers."
In a study conducted in 2022, Indian researchers utilized data from the LISS-IV instrument of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to reveal that the open water area of Wular Lake had diminished in size by approximately 25% during the period spanning from 2008 to 2019. Presently, the lake confronts eutrophication, characterized by the excessive proliferation of aquatic plants and algae, which can result in oxygen depletion in its ecosystem.