Status and Diversity of Small Indigenous Species (SIS) of fish in the upper reaches of River Brahmaputra, Assam

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to assess the status and diversity of small indigenous species (SIS) of fish in the upper reaches of the river Brahmaputra, Assam. The study was carried out for two years from January, 2013 to December, 2014 in five prominent landing stations. A total of 52 SIS of fish belonging to 15 families and 33 genera were recorded during the study period. Cyprinidae was observed to be the most dominant family with 22 species (42.31%). According to IUCN status (2015), species like Amblyceps arunchalensis and Puntius fraseri were listed as endangered species. It has been observed that the SIS were most abundant during pre-monsoon period and least abundant during winter season in the area of the river under study. The study also revealed that the upper reaches of river Brahmaputra is fairly rich in SIS fish diversity. However, better management strategies such as controlled harvest and scientific fishing policies will ensure sustainable exploitation and conservation of SIS fish in the region.

Fish species diversity, fishing gears and crafts from the Buriganga river, Dhaka

“…Fish diversity in the upper Brahmaputra river, India was maximum diversity variance (140.39 ± 11.85 Sd) was observed in the monsoon season for 49 species (680 individuals). Lowest variance (66.35 ± 8.15 Sd) was recorded in the winter season with 423 individuals (45 species) (Baishya et al 2016) and currently 56 fish were recorded from the upper Buriganga river. Among the fishes Tenualosa ilisha also migrates in the river to breed in the rainy season but they cannot visit properly due to water pollution and different ages of people collected fish from the fishermen.…”

“…Most of the people depend on reverien fisheries for their livelihood but fishermen get less fishing opportunity in the river system. A total of 52 fishes belonging to 15 families and 33 genera were recorded during January, 2013 to December, 2014 from the River Brahmaputra in Assam, north-eastern India (Baishya et al 2016). Fish diversity in the upper Brahmaputra river, India was maximum diversity variance (140.39 ± 11.85 Sd) was observed in the monsoon season for 49 species (680 individuals).…”

Comparison of two degraded lower Gangetic floodplain wetlands in India: assessing the effects of management practice on SIF diversity

“…According to , West Bengal contributes roughly 28.34% of the variety of freshwater sh in India. The wetlands of West Bengal were abundant with nearly 40-45 species of small indigenous shes (SIFs), as reported by various authors (Bhakta and Bandyopadhyay 2008;Baishya et al 2016). Most reported SIFs are critically important and are found in human-managed ecosystems (Pimbert 1993).…”

A Comprehensive Study on Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIS) Diversity, Availability, Conservation and Threatened Status in Sylhet Haor Basin, Bangladesh

“…Other remaining families (21 families) were represented by 19.29 % species in total. Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae were the dominant common taxa of SIS community documented in different water bodies in Bangladesh (Chaki et al, 2014;Galib et al, 2010;Kostori et al, 2011;Hanif et al, 2016) similar to other Asian rivers (Baishya et al, 2016;Saha et al, 2018;Fu et al, 2003;De Silva, 2007). Rahman (2005) highlighted Cyprinidae under Cypriniformes as the most populous species-rich family among all freshwater fish families in Bangladesh.…”

“…Despite the high number of threatened small native fish species in Bangladesh, there is little concern regarding the continuous reduction of SIS biodiversity (Hanif et al, 2016). Overexploitation, habitat degradation, water pollution, channel fragmentation, and sedimentation all pose a significant threat to SIS (Baishya et al, 2016). Regarding human nutrition, ecological balance, the long-term viability of SIS, and a healthy aquatic environment, it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive assessment of SIS in each aquatic watershed.…”