KATHMANDU: Two municipalities in western Nepal have made history by jointly establishing the country's first fish sanctuary, marking a significant milestone in freshwater biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries management.

Rajapur Municipality and Tikapur Municipality officially declared the 'Sakhi Fish Sanctuary' in the Lower Karnali River on Wednesday, following a formal public ceremony attended by local government leaders, community representatives, government agencies, and development partners.
Sanctuary Details

The sanctuary spans approximately 3.9 square kilometers (390 hectares), extending from Southern Tedhiya and Chhediya in Rajapur Municipality to Arnahawa Phanta in Tikapur Municipality. The designated river sections serve as critical breeding, spawning, and nursery habitats for indigenous fish species.

The area also provides essential habitat for several endangered aquatic species, including the Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), and Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata).

Community-Led Conservation

"This sanctuary is a decision jointly initiated, endorsed, and fully owned by Rajapur and Tikapur Municipalities," said Mayor Ram Lal Dangaura Tharu of Tikapur. "It reflects our responsibility to lead conservation from the ground up, guided by the voices of our river-dependent communities."
The declaration was made under the Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Conservation Act, following endorsement by both municipal executives and adherence to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles.

Mayor Dipesh Tharu of Rajapur emphasized the municipalities' commitment: "By taking full municipal ownership of this declaration, we affirm that protecting Lower Karnali is our shared duty. This is the beginning of long-term stewardship driven by local government, communities, and coordinated action."

Management Framework

The sanctuary will operate under a co-management framework, combining local government leadership with active community participation. Community River Stretch Management Groups (CRSMGs) have been established to handle routine management, monitoring, and awareness activities, working under municipal guidance and coordination with the Division Forest Office and security agencies.

Special emphasis has been placed on the meaningful participation of Sonaha and Tharu communities, whose livelihoods and cultural practices are deeply connected to the Karnali River.

Broader Significance

The initiative received technical and financial support from WWF Nepal through the "Strengthening Communities' livelihood and stewardship to conserve otters in Karnali" project, funded by the UK government's Darwin Initiative. The project involves collaboration between the Nepal Government, WWF Nepal, and local partners including Sonaha Bikash Samaj, Freed Kamaiya Women Development Forum, Dolphin Conservation Center, and Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation.

Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. Photo: WWF Nepal

Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal, highlighted the sanctuary's multifaceted importance: "Fish are not only central to local livelihoods, they are interwoven with cultural and religious fabric. This initiative also has potential to strengthen nature-based regenerative tourism by protecting the river ecosystem that sustains iconic wildlife such as the gharial, otters, and dolphins."

The Sakhi Fish Sanctuary is expected to serve as a national model for community-led freshwater ecosystem conservation, contributing to biodiversity protection, food security, cultural preservation, and climate-resilient livelihoods across Nepal.