Guwahati/Dhubri, Feb. 2: There is a need to protect the state’s wetlands from over exploitation and encroachment and provide livelihood options for people dependent solely on fishing in such wetlands, said experts during a workshop organised on the occasion of World Wetlands Day in the city today.

The workshop was organised on the topic “Wetlands of Assam in the context of hydrological connectivity, climate change, ecosystem services and livelihoods with reference to Deepor Beel, Kamrup (metro) district, Assam” by Aaranyak, a society for biodiversity conservation, today.

The experts said the wetlands in the state are conducive to breeding of fish as different varieties of fishes enter wetlands like Deepor Beel during floods and breed in its waters.

People living in and around such waterbodies conduct fishing in the waters, often violating rules, resulting in over exploitation.

“Floods have a positive impact on wetlands as they flush in many varieties of migratory fishes into the wetlands during monsoon, leading to the increase in their population. But people living around such waterbodies catch fish in an illegal and unscientific manner using mosquito nets. This is almost like a death trap for fishes as a large quantity of fish is captured at one go. Hence, it is essential to provide livelihood options for people who earn their living by fishing in order to save the aquatic life of these wetlands,” said Ranjita Bania, an expert.

Bania is a research officer of Fisheries Research Centre, Assam Agricultural University. “Moreover, in the tea garden areas chemicals are sprayed on plants to enhance growth. But many a time these chemicals get flushed out into the nearest waterbodies through canals that connect them to the tea gardens. These chemicals harm the aquatic life of such waterbodies. It is very important to develop culture-based fisheries and implement ranching programmes in an effective manner,” Bania said.

The experts also made a few important recommendations during the workshop that included framing of State Wetland Rules for Assam under the Wetland (Conservation and management) Rules 2010, establishment of a state-level statutory body for protection and management of wetlands in Assam, implementation of special acts on Deepor Beel under the provisions laid by different national and state environmental acts, promotion of research to assess and value the ecosystem services of the wetland for a holistic ecosystem-based management and promotion of homestead fishery among local communities residing near Deepor Beel.

In Dhubri, a website www.hakamabeel.hpage.com on Hakama Beel was launched by Aaranyak near Bilasipara town on the occasion of World Wetlands Day today. Aranya Suraksha Samiti and Hakama Beel Pakhi Abhayranya Dabi Samiti, two NGOs, jointly organised an awareness meeting at Hakama village.

“We have been demanding that this wetland be protected and conserved as a birds’ habitat for over the last 10 years now. Different species of local and migratory birds flock to this wetland which is an ideal source of food for them. We demand that this wetland be declared as a birds’ sanctuary as this area could become a tourism spot near Bilasipara town,” said Dhruba Ranjan Chakraborty, secretary of Hakama Beel Pakhi Abhayranya Dabi Samiti.