# Hilsa reappears in Ganga at Ghazipur decades after vanishing 2026-08-09T02:40:22+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Scientists have spotted two hilsa in the Ganga near Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, decades after the fish vanished from the river's upper and middle stretches. The fish, together weighing 740g, were found earlier this week. A senior Namami Gange official confirmed the sighting, as did officials at the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI). Locals reportedly saw more hilsa in two riverine villages on Saturday, though details have not reached district headquarters. The discovery is significant because Ghazipur is far upstream of the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal, which has blocked hilsa migration since 1975. The species once travelled as far as Prayagraj. Experts caution that two fish do not prove population recovery. Real restoration would require evidence of natural migration, spawning and survival over multiple life cycles, scientists said. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: CIFRI, Farakka barrage, fish migration, Ganga, hilsa, Namami Gange Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/hilsa-reappears-in-ganga-at-ghazipur-decades-after-vanishing/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/hilsa-reappears-in-ganga-at-ghazipur-decades-after-vanishing/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.