KOLKATA — Decades after disappearing from upstream waters due to migratory blockages, the iconic hilsa fish has returned to the upper stretches of the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, marking a major milestone in river restoration efforts.
The hilsa, scientifically known as Tenualosa ilisha, was recently recorded near Tanda Khurd village in the Chandauli district. Historically, the migratory species travelled from the Bay of Bengal past Varanasi and Prayagraj. However, its natural migration corridor was severely disrupted following the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage in 1975, causing steep population declines and harming regional fishing communities.
To reverse the trend, the ICAR – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) in Barrackpore and the National Mission for Clean Ganga launched a multiyear scientific restoration programme. Between 2019 and June 2026, researchers implemented river ranching, artificial breeding and stock enhancement initiatives. Agencies released more than 3,85,000 juvenile and adult hilsa, alongside over 40,00,000 fertilised eggs and 9,40,000 hatchery-produced spawn upstream of the Farakka Barrage.
Systematic monitoring and tagging programmes tracked the fish’s movement. Earlier monitoring between 2023 and 2025 documented upstream movement as far as Mirzapur, culminating in the recent discovery of two hilsa weighing a combined 740 grams in Chandauli district.
Experts note that the return of the sensitive migratory species serves as a biological indicator of improved river connectivity and overall ecological health in the Ganga basin.
Ecological restoration becomes truly meaningful when it strengthens social and economic resilience, said Pradip Dey, director, ICAR-CIFRI. He emphasised that hilsa recovery enhances fish availability, supports livelihood diversification, and strengthens the economic security of riverine communities while conserving the ecological heritage of the river.
(This report was drafted with the assistance of AI and verified by a human editor.)
Source: PIB/11.08.26