SIVASAGAR: At a time when indiscriminate fishing has caused rapid depletion of the local varieties in the region, a section of unscrupulous traders are thriving in Sivasagar sub-division and other parts of Sivasagar district. Fish production in the district has depleted to such an extent that the people have not been able to meet the minimum requirement, not to speak of export. The district has to procure huge quantities of fish from outside to meet the local demand. The reason behind the large-scale depletion is not hard to fathom. There are beels which have not been developed year after year. In most, fishing continues at the beels throughout the year and catching of egg-bearing fish has been intensified during spring season. Besides, fishing in several notified fisheries is carried out by de-watering; and when de-watering is impossible, very fine nets are used to catch even the smallest fries and fingerlings. Moreover, fishing by application of poison, particularly at the natural reserves and lakes inside the reserve forests has caused much harm to their production. Another important factor is rampant fishing during the peak breeding season of the year. Taking advantage of the ignorance of the common villagers, the interested fish traders instigate the fishermen to intensify fishing during early monsoon, by several measures not prescribed by law or morally. The lessees take special steps during this season to earn extra-money or sublease some points of the big fisheries or beels to other businessman. Though there are legal provisions to deter such activities, rural people of the region are not aware about these measures. Those who are aware flout them in the interest of financial gain. The district Fishery department has not taken any steps or undertaken publicity drive to make the people aware about the restrictions in fishing during the breeding period, nor asked one and all to register protest against illegal fishing. Even after observing open selling of egg-bearing fish in the markets of Sivasagar town and other places, the authority concerned has not initiated any action against the violators. As such, gross violation of Sections 23 and 24 of Assam Fisheries Act, is distinctly detected in the district which is going on unabated due to inaction of the authorities concerned. It has thus threatened the existence of the local fish species as well as the biodiversity of the region.