Guwahati, Oct. 4: An aqua tourism centre in Nagaon district will organise the seventh edition of its angling festival with the aim to teach students to conserve fish species.

The Jasingfaa Aqua Tourism Centre at Mahrul Dimoruguri in Nagaon district will organise the festival on October 15.

'We have organised the festival for the past seven years. Like other years, we have a special theme this year - Conservation Through Angling. The aim of angling is not to catch a fish. An angler immediately releases the fish after he catches it. It is usually a good way to spend leisure time. But now its importance has increased in terms of conservation. Many anglers maintain a data book which records the variety of fish in a waterbody. It can help in conserving the aquatic bio-diversity,' chief managing director of the centre, Nava Kumar Gogoi, told The Telegraph.

He said the popularity of angling in Assam, which has good aquatic bio-diversity, is less compared to abroad. 'Angling is very popular among people abroad. But in Assam, its popularity is yet to grow. So this festival will help the new generation learn about the sport,' Sarma said.

The hands-on training on conservation will be provided by Derek D'Souza, who won the first all-India salt water angling tournament and also works for aquatic conservation. Conservation biologist Dandadhar Sarma said, 'Angling is a sport and its aim is not to catch fish for food. So it has a great impact on conservation. Mahseer is targeted usually during angling in the Jiya Bharali and the Manas. But it is not popular in Assam.' The training and festival will be held at Jasingfaa Aqua Tourism Resort located on the bank of Mahrul Beel. It is the sole aqua tourism resort in the Northeast.

Experts will deliver a lecture on mahseer ecotourism and conservation, angling and ecotourism, recreational fishery resources, fish sanctuaries in ecotourism and threatened birds of eastern India and prospects of ecotourism.

The angling competition will be open to all and will be held from 9am to 4pm. The winner will be awarded cash prize.

The festival is being organised in collaboration with the directorate of cold water fisheries research, Coldwater Fisheries Society of India and state fisheries department.