Poachers fish in the Beas, the Sutlej and other water bodies in the region while the authorities stand as mute spectators. Poaching is rampant in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiapur, Kapurthala, Nawanshar and Jalandhar districts even though the government has imposed a complete ban on fishing from June 15 to August 15. On 13 July, officials of the Fisheries Department, Gurdaspur, raided Upper Bari Doab Canal in Kalanour and nabbed over six poachers with 25 kg of fish and five nets. Vishesh Kumar, Deputy Director, Fisheries, Gurdaspur, said nearly a dozen cases of fish poaching had been reported in Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts and over 25 persons had been challaned and penalised Rs 10,000 each this year. Sources said illegal fishing was rampant in the Sutlej and a section of the Beas starting from Talwara in Hoshiarpur district to Harike Pattan. The poachers are also active around dams and other water bodies in the night. “The Harike Wildlife Sanctuary is a safe haven for poachers where they hunt fish, wild animals and birds,” said Gurmit Singh, President, Nature Conservation Society, Punjab. Poachers also take benefit of jurisdiction ambiguity on the inter-state border with Himachal Pradesh and catch fish near Talwara. The remote areas of Sultanpur Lodhi tehsil in Kapurthala, areas surrounding Pul Pukhta village in Dasuya tehsil of Hoshiarpur districts are also frequented by poachers to catch fish in the Beas, said an official of the department on the condition of anonymity. However, officials of the department said teams had been deployed to keep a close watch on fish poaching across the state. BK Sood, Director, Fisheries Punjab, did not comment on the issue. Where they operate Illegal fishing is rife in the Sutlej and the Beas Poachers are also active around dams and other water bodies at night They also take benefit of jurisdiction ambiguity on the inter-state border with Himachal Pradesh and operate near Talwara