28 June
IN efforts to conserve Inle carp or locally called Nga Hpein (Cyprinus intha), a Cyprinid fish commonly found in Inle Lake and an endemic species in Myanmar, a government-hatchery in Nyaungshwe produces over 700,000 fingerlings of the species yearly.
Inle Lake is located on the Shan plateau in the Southern Shan State of Myanmar. It is the largest Lake in Shan State.
After finding out that the fish species population abundance has decreased and is facing extinction due to changes in water quality and decreased clarity, the IUCN Red List declared the Inle carp as endan-gered in 2011 as it had been impacted by the introduction of some Cypri-nus species in the Lake.
The fingerlings produced by the Nyaungshwe Hatchery are distribut-ed to local fish farmers and also re-leased into the lake in efforts to bring the species back from extinction.
In 2018-2019 fiscal year, about 720,000 fingerlings were released into the lake, according to the Deputy Director of the Shan State Fisheries Department U Kyaw Thiha Htwe.
C. intha inhabits the shallow zone of the Lake, especially in are-as with dense submerged vegeta-tion and muddy with high organic bottom. Spawning of this species usually takes place in waters with temperature ranging from 24°C to 26°C, between November and March.
There is an urgent need to up-lift the status of the fishermen and also to safeguard the sustainability of array of indigenous, endemic and ornamental fish species that enjoy the eco-friendly nature of Inle water.
Moreover, there is a need to maintain the Inle Lake to be environmentally friendly for the aquatic fauna and flora to thrive.
By Nay Myo Thurein
