Fishing for a life and livelihood in Loktak

Fishing for a life and livelihood in Loktak

About Loktak Lake

1. Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in North -East India. It is located in the Bishupur District of Manipur.
2. The most unique feature of the Loktak lake is the presence of a series of floating islands locally known as phumdis. These are massive heterogeneous masses of soil, vegetation and organic matter in different stages of decomposition
3. Keibul Lamjao National Park located at the south western part of the lake. It is home to the endangered Manipuri brow-antlered deer, Sangai.
4. Loktak Lake was designated for the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Under Ramsar Convention) in 1990.
5. In 1993 it was inscribed in the Montreux Record of sites whose ecological character has changed, is changing, or is about to change as a result of human interference.

Threats to Loktak Lake:

1. Waste products from towns and cities and sediments brought by the rivers to the lake is a major concern
2. “floating huts” or “phumshang” built by local fishermen have disrupted the environment of the lake by polluting and shallowing the lake
3. introduction of new and alien species in the 1980s by Government of Manipur has led to loss of indigenous species of the Lake
4. Detergents, soaps and other phosphates and nitrates containing chemicals, which are brought down by the rivers to this lake, cause ‘eutrophication’ of the lake

Issues faced by local communities

1. Due to environmental degradation, there has been continuous decline in fish species which have impacted the livelihood of fishermen community of Loktak.
2. Another major challenge for Loktak Lake dwellers has been eviction after the enactment of Loktak Protection Act, 2006. The Act prohibits dwellings on the phumdis on the lake and the dwellers were termed “occupiers”.