The Aquaculture Sector in Bhutan

The aquaculture sector in Bhutan mainly revolves around the farming of carps and other native sentient species and that may be because cold water species have difficulty surviving in warmer waters and because the local palate is more attuned to carps and other warm water species.

Trout (brown trout) was introduced into Bhutan in the 1930s and the fish is popular with recreational anglers and despite the lack of domestic demand, the fish has done fairly well for itself in Bhutan, and that is largely due to the glacier fed waters that flow from the Himalayan mountain range.

A majority of rivers in Bhutan flow from the Himalayas through the narrow defiles at the foot of the mountains, resurfacing in Duar, and eventually filtering through to the Brahmaputra River.

These rivers are characteristic of mountain streams, i.e. rivers filled with clear, crisp, rapid flowing waters or waters that are ideal for trout rearing. The longest river in Bhutan is the Manasa River which is named after the Hindu serpent goddess, Manasa Devi. It is followed by the Torsa, Raidak or Sankosh. Bhutan’s riverine system is dependent on the Himalayas for its water and the water from the rivers is also used for irrigation.

The river valley has two major reserve forest areas, the Royal Manas National Park and the contiguous Manas Wildlife Sanctuary.

Bhutan’s annual aquaculture output is approximately 64 metric tons and it is relatively small when compared to its neighbors. The country has a very small population, 733,643, averaging approximately 19 to 20 persons per sq. km. It is a sparsely populated country without access to any seas or oceans.

A predominantly Lamaistic Buddhist country with a reasonable Hindu minority, fish is an important dietary requirement. There is little consumption of red meat and therefore it is essential for Bhutan, to develop a sustainable aquaculture sector, and to cultivate varieties of fish that are suitable to fulfill the nutritional and dietary requirements of its population.

India is its biggest trade partner and much of its imports and exports are channeled through the sub-continent.

Most of the fish and fish-based products available in Bhutan are imported. It is expected that Bhutan’s fish imports will surpass 7800 metric tons by 2025. The aquaculture sector in Bhutan shoulders the huge responsibility of increasing output through breeding and capture to ensure food security in the country.

Bhutan’s landscape is spread over a rugged terrain of rising hills and narrow valleys. The nation has never fully adopted to westernization and like its Himalayan relative, Ladakh, it remains stooped in religion and tradition. It is an unspoiled nation, unfettered by modernization, that exists in silence. Its mysteries like most of the other Himalayan states remain unknown.

Bhutan is also alternatively known as the land of the thunder dragon and amidst its scenic valleys, depressions, gorges, gullies, vales, ravines and canyons, fish breeders compete with farmers for access to fertile land.

Hidden monasteries are an all too familiar facet of Bhutan. Secluded and somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, the nation continues to discreetly progress.   

Trout is found in the rivers Thimphu, Raidak and its tributary, the River Haa. There are 7 other warm water species and 41 indigenous species. Since its introduction into Bhutanese rivers, trout was bred in captivity in two hatcheries for stocking purposes until 1983 when stocking was discontinued. Despite that, the fish has endured and continues to populate rivers.

The symbiotic cultivation of fish flourished uninterrupted in Bhutan until the 90s when unrest in various parts of the country disrupted warm water fisheries. The construction of two new hydroelectric dams however offer new scope for fish production.

A bulk of Bhutan’s fish production is centered in the subtropical hills of southern Bhutan. The nation has over 590 natural lakes, relatively small, and located at an altitude above 2200 m. The air contains about 20.9% oxygen but the barometric pressure is lower than normal.

Major drawbacks to fish farming in Bhutan include a lack of research, training and adequate facilities, and the sector despite its commercial viability has not gathered any momentum.