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21st October 2009, 11:10
The growing trend of poison fishing in local streams and rivers across the country is threatening the aquatic life in four major river ecosystems -- Karnali, Koshi, Narayani and Mahakali. Rising use of a highly toxic pesticide called 'thiodan' has specially threatened the already vulnerable dolphins. At present, dolphin population in the four rivers is estimated to stand at only 130.
Of late, fishermen and companies granted fishing contracts by the Village Development Committees are using thiodan, an endosulfic organochloric toxin that hits the respiratory tracts of the pests and is thus regarded as very effective pesticide. Thiodan, which is banned in many countries across the globe, is popularly known as ´Machha Marne Ausadhi´ by many fishermen in Nepal, and is being extensively used in small streams that feed the small rivers like Mohana, Kandra and Pathriya in the rainy seasons and the big rivers in the dry season. On the other hand, consuming fishes killed with thiodan can have severe impacts on humans as well. Thiodan is one of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The molecules of POPs remain in human fat and have severe long-term health as well as genetic impacts on humans.... Read Full Article Akanshya Shah (http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=10930)