Buddhist fish farmers in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district are taking up coldwater fish culture in raceways, as livelihood needs drive wider acceptance of commercial rainbow trout farming in the high-altitude region.
Potential for fish farming in Tawang
Scientists said Tawang, located around 8,000 to 10,000 feet above sea level, has strong potential for fish farming. The district has more than 300 coldwater lakes, and the fisheries department has already released rainbow and brown trout seedlings in 14 lakes. Coldwater aquaculture had lagged in the frontier district in the Eastern Himalayan range, largely due to religious beliefs that discouraged killing any species, but officials said attitudes are changing.
Collaborative assessment for scaling up
The ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-CICFR), Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, along with the Arunachal Pradesh fisheries department, has begun assessing the scope for scaling up rainbow trout farming in Tawang, citing favourable climate, abundant coldwater resources and suitable topography. Commercial rainbow trout farming has started gaining momentum under two farmers, officials said. On Tuesday, the two organisations held a consultative meeting under the NER Activity 2026-27 to examine the scope for rainbow trout farming in Tawang district. Around 20 fish farmers from Khartooth in Tawang block, Mirba and Bongleng in Mogto block, and Audung and Kitpi in Kitpi block attended, along with scientists and fisheries officials.
Changing attitudes and tourism boost
PK Thongdok, district fisheries development officer, Tawang, said, “While there is no such ban in fish farming and fish eating in Buddhism, farmers coming forward to make fish locally available for the non-vegetarian population who are about 98% of the district population. It can also boost tourism, as the fishes will be released in the high-altitude lakes which are the biggest tourist destinations and tourists will do angling.”
The programme was attended by RS Patiyal, principal scientist; SK Mallik, senior scientist and nodal officer (NER); and DC Sati, senior finance and accounts officer from ICAR-CICFR, along with Thongdok.
Characteristics of trout species
Rainbow and brown trout are fast-growing, high-value species suited to coldwater temperatures of up to 20 degrees Celsius. Trout farming has recorded success in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Livelihood and socio-economic development
RS Patiyal said, “Scientific trout farming could become a major source of livelihood, employment and socio-economic development for farming communities in the district.”
After the meeting, scientists and fisheries officials visited potential sites across Tawang to assess feasibility, examining water availability, environmental suitability and site-specific opportunities for future interventions.
