Loktak Lake Phumdis Floating Island Fishery Manipur

Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district is India's largest freshwater lake and the only lake in the world with phumdis — heterogeneous floating masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter that range from a few square metres to several hectares. The most famous phumdi is the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world's only floating national park and the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer). The Meitei fishing communities of Loktak have developed a unique athapum (circular fence-trap) fishing system using bamboo fencing erected on phumdis to create enclosed fish nursery areas, harvesting carp, rohu, and catla species. The Loktak Development Authority manages water level regulation, phumdi conservation, and fisher community livelihood. The lake faces threats from the Ithai barrage upstream that raises water levels, submerging traditional fishing grounds and village lands. The Fishermen Living on Loktak (FLOL) communities live in about 1,000 floating huts on phumdis, maintaining a unique semi-aquatic lifestyle. The fishery and phumdi ecology are registered under Ramsar wetland convention.