Indawgyi Lake: Rare species of fish found in Indawgyi lake

The conservation process for water birds species, fish and tortoise species are being carried out in Indawgyi Lake in Mohnyin of Kachin State.

There are 94 fish species in Indawgyi Lake and nearby creeks including the two rare species which can only be found in Indawgyi Lake and 6 new species which haven’t registered scientifically.

There are 33 villages around Indawgyi lake and the residents of the 15 villages make their living by doing fishery businesses. 4 out of 15 villages mainly depend on fishery businesses and 11 villages also do farming besides doing fishery businesses.

The residents from the rest of the villages make their living by extracting forest products from watershed area around Indawgyi Lake.

Monthly research for the fish species of Indawgyi Lake has been conducting since 2016 apart from the three-month non-fishery season. In doing research, the officials register the types of fish that the resident caught and the fishing tools they use in fishing monthly.

The officials also discussed with the residents to choose the areas to establish fish conservation zones in Indawgyi Lake. Now 10 fish conservation zones are already set up and the conservation processes are being carried out systematically.

As Indawgyi Lake is the 3rd largest fresh water lake in South-East Asia and there are many biodiversity, animal species and natural environment around the lake which need to be preserved.

Therefore, plans are underway to conduct the conservation process, research programs and raising public awareness activities.