Fish And Fisheries Of River Ganga By ANKITA

Fish And Fisheries Of River Ganga By ANKITA

1. Fish And Fisheries Of River Ganga Ankita M. Sc. Zoology (IV Sem.) Fishery Science and Aquaculture ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY

2. The Auspicious Ganga The river Ganga originates in the Garhwal Himalayas (30° 55' N; 70° 7' E) at an elevation of 4100 m above mean sea level from Gangotri glacier in the western Himalayas in the Uttrakhand state of India. The Ganga river supports a copious flora and fauna.

3. Routes of River Ganga

4. Habitat For The Fishes Upper Ganga: The river in the upper reach flows on steep bed and narrow terrain The substrate is mostly rocks, boulders and stones The water is very cold having turbulent flow with high velocities sometimes up to 2.0-3.0 m/sec Middle Ganga: River bed is wide with extensive flood plains, meandering streams on sand and pebbles The temperatures of water are moderate and velocities low 20-30 cm/sec Lower Ganga: The river in lower stretch has problems of sediment load, flooding and silt deposition through a meandering water course The flows are comparatively more after the confluence of major tributaries The substrate is usually of silt over sand and accumulation of degrading organic matter

5. Fishes Of The Ganga River Ganga river supports a large number of endemic and exotic species of fishes. It harbours approximately 265 fish species, including the Gangetic major carps, large catfishes, featherbacks and murrels .

6. Commercially Important Fishes ( A). Indian Major carps Catla catla Labeo rohita Cirrhina mrigala B) . Other Carps Labeo bata Labeo dero Cirrhinus reba ( C). Large cat fishes Sperata aor Sperata seenghala Silonia silondia Wallaga attu Pangasius pangasius Bagarius bagarius Rita rita ( D). Other catfishes Clupisoma garua Eutropiichthys vacha Ailia coila Ompok bimaculatus Ompak pabda (E ). Clupeoides Hilsa ilisha Setipinna phasa Gudusia chapra (F).Feather backs Notopterus notopterus Notopterus chitala (G).Exotic and other fishes Cyprinus carpio Oreochromis niloticus Aristichthys nobilis Ctenopharyngodon idella Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Clarias gariepinus Puntius sophore Puntius conchonius Channa punctata Channa marulius Channa striata

7. Fishes of Upper Ganga The sub stretch Gangotri to Gangnani is no fish zone. The river continuum is disturbed between Gangnani and Devprayag due to multiple hydroelectric projects. The reach between Gangnani to Devprayag is inhabited by fishes. The most typical being Trouts , Schizothorax (7sp) and Schizothoraichthys (2sp). Other fishes reported are Garra (3sp), Barillius,Nemachilus , Pseudecheneis , Glyptothorax .

8. Fishes of Middle Ganga 138 species belonging to 69 genus and 26 families have been reported. Cyprinidae is the largest group. This middle Ganga shows decline of carps and increase in catfishes and forage fishes.

9. Fishes of Lower Ganga The most important groups like in middle Ganga are Cyprinidae which includes 34 species. The characteristic group of fishes in the zone is the major carps and large catfishes, c lupeiods and featherbacks .

10. Fishing Gears Hook and line is the main gear in the upper most stretch. Use of fishing gears e.g.gill nets, cast net etc are operative in the middle and lower stretches. The variously designed gears are used to suit local conditions such as depth of water, water velocity and type of fish to be caught.

11. Fish Landings (Tonnes) At Different Centres On Ganga river (Compiled From Cifri Annual Reports, 1970, 80, 90, 2000, 2007)

12. Exotic Fishes

13. Fisheries At Allahabad Fish landing at Allahabad (CIFRI Annual Reports 1961-2007)

14. Factors influencing the declining rate of fishes in River Ganga Climate change Dams, Barrages and Hydropower projects Pollution Invasion of Exotic species

15. Recommendations for Sustainable F isheries in the G anga River Check water diversions into canals to allow natural flow. Allow fish movements upriver, currently locked by large dams and barrages. Curb destructive practices of fishing. Urgent need to reduce the presently excessive river pollution, specially industrial but also domestic wastes. Make sure new proposed dams are built at a site that results in the least amount of environmental damage. P ublic awareness among people to reduce socio-economic pressure on the selected fish species.

16. R ecently integrated Ganga Conservation Mission called Namami Gange was formed under National Mission for Clean Ganga, a registered society of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to ensure ecological rejuvenation by conservation of aquatic life and biodiversity.

17. Thank You!!