The Mahseer Conservation and Fish Monitoring Center (MC&FMC) located at Taksha in Wangdiphodrang, has been officially taken over by the Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. The handing and taking ceremony was held between the Department of Livestock (DoL), represented by Dr. Tashi Yangzome Dorji, Director, and the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project Authority II (PHPA – II), represented by Mr. Niranjan Kumar, Director – Finance, on 24^th March 2021.

MC&FMC was established with the total budget of approximately Nu.147 Million as a measure to mitigate the impact of hydropower project on Golden Mahseer and other native fish species in Punatsangchhu River. Golden Mahseer is a long distance migratory fish and listed as an endangered fish species (IUCN). The MC&FMC’s main activity, therefore, will be to ensure that the health of the Golden Mahseer population is maintained through fish breeding and long term fish monitoring program. Other function and activities include fish conservation as well as fishery development in the region.

MC&FMC will function as one of the sub centers of National Research and Development Center for Riverine and Lake Fisheries (NRDCR&LF) under the Research and Extension Division, Department of Livestock.