Trout has become a casualty of water scarcity and pollution in Pakistan’s northern areas. A rare disease has affected once plentiful trout in Kaghan, Naran and Swar. In Gilgit Baltistan’s pristine waters, declining snowfall has reduced freshwater reserves and the first visible casualty is the fisheries sector. Pakistan’s most prized cold-water fish, trout, depends on clean, oxygen-rich streams, making it highly climate sensitive. Introduced to Baltistan in 1979, rainbow trout now face severe breeding losses as reduced water levels, rising turbidity and altered water chemistry have nearly erased natural spawning grounds.
Currently, scientific breeding at Khushwachari Gumba offers some relief in sustaining production. Even though pond yields have dropped by more than half., still fish farming through artificial means offers hope. Modern oxygen fountains and scientific feeding systems are helping sustain production. If climate adaptation and environmental protection go hand in hand, Skardu’s trout can survive and continue to support the local economy
