Tracking Migratory Fish: Poonch River, Pakistan

The Poonch River in Pakistan flows from the border of Pakistan-administered Kashmir to the Mangla Dam reservoir, 85 km downstream. The upper section of the river has been designated as the Poonch River Mahaseer National Park.

There is currently one hydropower project on the Poonch River, the Gulpur Hydropower Project. The construction and operation of this hydropower project has created a barrier for fish movement and impacted their abundance, diversity and migration.

FCF has been assisting Hagler-Bailly Pakistan on their project to track and monitor the movement of selected migratory fish species to determine their response to the Gulpur dam. 

• What is the timing and pattern of spawning migrations for the fish populations that exist above and below the Gulpur Dam?
• What tributaries are the most important sites for spawning?
• What are the overwintering areas?
• What is the timing for fish to migrate to overwintering areas?
• Do fish swim try to swim past the dam and down the outflow to the powerhouse?

Golden Mahseer, Snow Trout and Labeo will be tracked over the next couple of years to determine their migrations above and below the Gulpur Dam.

Thank you for your interest.