The Fishes of Dal Lake: A Fragile Underwater World Under the Shadow of Shikaras

The Fishes of Dal Lake: A Fragile Underwater World Under the Shadow of Shikaras

Nestled in the heart of Srinagar, Kashmir, Dal Lake is not just a postcard-perfect waterbody ringed by Mughal gardens and houseboats; it is also one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the Kashmir Valley. Beneath the mirrored surface where floating vegetable gardens and lotus blooms dominate the summer landscape, an entire aquatic community quietly thrives, or struggles to. The native fishes of Dal Lake, especially the endemic Schizothorax species, have shaped local cuisine, culture, and livelihoods for centuries. Yet today, these fish face an existential threat, and one of the most visible culprits paddles right above them: the iconic shikara.

The Fish That Made Kashmir Famous

The star of Dal Lake’s ichthyofauna is undoubtedly the Snowtrout, locally called “Kashir gaad,” belonging to the genus Schizothorax (commonly S. esocinus, S. niger, S. curvifrons, and S. labiatus). These are handsome, torpedo-shaped fish with thick lips adapted to scraping algae and aufwuchs off stones in fast-flowing Himalayan streams. Until the mid-20th century, they migrated from the tributaries of the Jhelum into Dal Lake to feed and spawn.

Other important native species include:

The endemic Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpio specularis) introduced in the 1950s–60s but now naturalised.

Triploid Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) stocked for weed control.

Small indigenous fishes such as Gambusia (mosquito fish), Nemacheilus spp., and Crossocheilus diplochilus.

Historically, a fisherman using cast nets or long lines could land 15–30 kg of Schizothorax in a single night. Old-timers recall 8–10 kg specimens being common. Today, catching a 2 kg Snowtrout is cause for celebration.

From Abundance to Collapse

Fish landings in Dal Lake peaked in the late 1960s at around 1,800–2,000 tonnes annually. By 2015, official figures had plummeted to less than 100 tonnes, and independent surveys suggest the real catch is even lower. The endemic Schizothorax population is now classified as “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” by IUCN, depending on the species.

Multiple factors are responsible: eutrophication, siltation, loss of spawning grounds, unchecked weed growth, and rampant poaching. But one stressor is uniquely visible and culturally sensitive: the shikara itself.

How Shikaras Harm the Fishery

The graceful, hand-paddled shikara is the symbol of Dal Lake, ferrying tourists, vegetables, flowers, and lovers at sunset. Yet each shikara also acts, inadvertently, as a moving disturbance machine.

Physical Disturbance of Spawning Grounds

Schizothorax spawn in shallow, weedy, near-shore zones between October and February. These are exactly the areas where shikara traffic is heaviest: the boulevards, houseboat ghats, and floating market zones. The constant paddling and poling stir up bottom sediment, smothering eggs and newly hatched fry with fine silt.

Noise and Vibration

Studies using hydrophones in Dal Lake have recorded continuous low-frequency noise from wooden paddles striking the hull and the pole pushing against the lake bed. Juvenile Schizothorax are highly sensitive to substrate vibration; sustained exposure disrupts feeding and schooling behaviour.

Direct Mortality from Propellers (Motor Shikaras)

Though traditional shikaras are paddled, an increasing number now use small outboard engines or electric motors. These propellers chop juvenile fish and carp fry. Locals report finding minced fish floating near busy ghats after weekends.

Fuel and Oil Leakage

Two-stroke engines (still common despite bans) leak unburnt petrol and oil. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accumulate in fish tissue. A 2018 study found PAH levels in Schizothorax muscle 3–6 times higher than WHO safety limits for human consumption.

Tourism-Linked Overfeeding and Waste

Tourists love feeding bread and biscuits to carp swarming under shikaras. This creates artificial congregations of non-native carp that compete with native species and spread diseases such as Aeromonas and Saprolegnia infections.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

A 2020 study by the Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, set up enclosed spawning arenas in high-traffic vs low-traffic zones. Egg survival in high shikara-traffic zones was 12–18%, compared to 68–74% in quieter interior bays. The message is clear: where shikaras ply thickly, fish recruitment collapses.

Is There a Middle Path?

Completely banning shikaras is neither practical nor desirable; they are the economic lifeline for thousands of families and the soul of Dal Lake tourism. But targeted measures can dramatically reduce the damage:

Designated “No-Shikara Spawning Sanctuaries” along the northern and eastern shores during winter months (November–March).

Complete phase-out of petrol outboards; subsidies for electric motors with guarded propellers.

Fixed shikara routes and speed limits (already partially implemented).

Creation of artificial spawning substrates (gravel beds) in quieter interior areas.

Strict enforcement against bread-feeding and waste dumping.

Some of these steps are already underway under the Dal Lake Conservation Plan, but implementation remains patchy.

A Lake That Can Still Heal

Dal Lake has survived centuries of kings, invasions, and tourists. Its fishes, though battered, are remarkably resilient. In areas where houseboat sewage has been diverted and shikara traffic restricted (such as certain interior marshes), young Schizothorax are once again being sighted in good numbers.

The next time you glide across the lake in a shikara at dawn, look down through the crystal-clear patches. If you are lucky, you might spot a silver flash of a Snowtrout darting beneath the lotus leaves. That fish is not just a potential dinner; it is living proof that beauty and livelihood can still coexist, if we paddle a little more mindfully.

Let the shikara remain the heartbeat of Dal Lake, but let us make sure the lake still has fish worth coming back for.