Evaluation of North-East Indian Fishes for their Potential as Cultivable, sport and Omam ... Page 1 o f 5

D n R S 1 T ' -ERST IND

Evaluation of North East Indian Fishes for their Potential as

Cultivable, Sport and Ornamental Fishes along with their Conservation

and Endemic Status

U.K. Sarkar and A.G. Ponniah

National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources Canal Ring Road, P.O. Dilkusha, Lucknow - 226 002, U.P.

E-mail : nbfgr@sancharnet.in

Introduction

The North Eastern Hill states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim have vast untapped potential for fisheries in terms of many rivers, streams, floodplain wetlands, lakes, ponds and large areas under rice-fish culture system. The region lies between 21.57" to 29.3" north latitudes and 84.46" to 97.3" east longitudes covering elevation from c. 200 to 900 m. from the sea level. The r iven Brahamaputra and Barak form the principal drainage of North East India with its numerous tributaries flowing through the different states along with myriads of rivulets and lentic water bodies. The region has 19,150 km of riven, 23,972 ha. of reservoirs, 1,43,740 ha. of lakes, 40,809 ha. of ponds and 2,780 ha. of rice-cum-fish

aluation of North-East Indian Fishes for the~r Yotentla1 as Cultivable, Sport and Omam ... Page 2 of-5

cuiture area. North East India is considered a s one 04: the hot spots of freshwater fish biodiversity in the world (Xottelat and Whitten, 1996). It is a bveiP recugnised fact that there nas Seen drastic reduction in abundance of the freshwater fishes in this region due to destruction of the habitat, overexp!oitation and other anthropogenic effects. Review of Ibterature indicates that only limited information is available on fish gern~plasm resources of North East India with speciae reference to its potential a s cultivable, sport and ornamental fishes. There has been a wide variation in the ntlmber of fishes reported from this region ranging from 172 (Ghosh and Lipton, 19S2) to 267 (Sen, 2000). Also detailed drainage wise distribution, seasonal abundance, endernism and perferred microhabitats have not been criticaBly examined.

In the present paper, an attempt has been made to prioritise among the North East Indian fishes the potential cealtivabie, spoPa and ornamental fishes aErjng with their endemic status on t he basts of available literature a s well as enquiry and interaction ivith the local fishe,ry experts. Current consewation status a s evaluated by Conservation Assessment and Management P%an (CAMP) workshop held a t NBFGR during 1997 is also indicated. For few fishes not evaduated ie?, the CAMP workshop, based on assessment carried out during the North East Indian Fish Germplasm Inventory and Gonsecaiation workshop held a t Shiiiong dinsing Febresary, 2800 the consewation status is included.

Diversity sf Fish Fauna

The North East Region shares its fish facna predominantly with thae of the Indo-Garagetic fauna and to a small extent with the Burmese and South China fish fauna (Yadav and Chawdra, 14943. Scanning of literature shows that 132 fish species with reference to their economic importance were recorded by Ghosh and Lipton (1982) whiie Sen (9985) and Mahanta et. a!, (1998) recorded aitogether 183 fish species from Assam and the s-reighbouring North Eastern state: of India. Compilation of Yadav and Chandra (1994) listed a totai of 129 species. Sinha (1996) i r his comprehensive review gave a list of 230 fishes a s available Prom North Eastern region. Recently, Nath and Dey (1997) recorded a total of 131 species From the drainages of Arunacha Pradesh. Sen (2000) has indicated that more number of species (267) has been reported frorr North East India. The various reports show a wide variation in the total number of specie: reported. In the present communication 186 potential food, sports and aquarium f i s h specie: klonging to 27 famiiies under 84 genera, have been presented along with statewise distribution abundance alongwith potential fisheries (Table 1). WhiQe the iist of 267 fish species given by Ser (20013 includes all indigenous and exotic species found in Nofih East Iaadia, the list of I86 fist species given in the present paper is restricted to indigenous species for which their potential a6 cultivable, sport and ornamental value has been assessed. Many more species could be distributec in the drainages of North East.

Economically Important Fishes

The literature reveals that no efforts have been made to assess the rich fish gerrnplasrr resources available in this region with resped to its commercial utilisation. With growing demanc for consumption, aquarium and sport, it is necessary t o evaluate potential species on the basis of difFerent criteria. At this stage, assessment is only preieliminaw, since it is mainly based on the secondary data supplemented by interaction with experts and actuab obser\lation. The preliminar) evaluation reveals that out of 186 fish species 52 (33.33%) are considered as only food fisb followed by 53 (28.44%) as only ornamental. It also indicate that 11 (5.31%) species are considered a s food fish a s well a s sports and ornamental followed by 10 (5.37%) as food fish anc sport fish, 24 (12.90°/o) a s food fish and ornamentat, 18 ("367%) a s sport and ornamental. Out 01 186 species a b u t eight species (4.30%) do not have any importance with regard to food, sporl and ornamental fish. So far economic value is concerned, it is evaluated that out of 186 species 34 fish species have market demand better than Indian major carps whereas 19 species have simila~

uation of North-East Indian Fishes for their Potential as Cultivable, Sport and Oma rn... Page 3 of 5

economic value, This indicates great potentiat of freshwater fishcries in the state of North East India by utilizing indigenous fish species,

The criteria adopted for f ~ o d fishes were maximam size reported, consumer prefeerence and market demand. Of Food fishes those that skew adequate gro-swth within a year may be brought under cultivable category. Fishes have been identified a s sport fishes mainly based on literature and some input fmn anglers. Potential aquarium fishes have bean identified based on actual present demand, bright colouration.

Consemation and Endemic Status

NBFGW, Lucknow in I992 had identified nine endemic fishes of North East region a s most 'threatened', These are Ompok pabda, 0, pabo, Labeo dyoche~lus, Sernipiotus semrpiots, 08yra Bongicaudata, Psbiorhynchus homaioptera, Noemacked!~~~ eiongatus, 83;sdjtm-a brucci and Barbus dvkai. Sinha (1994) has listed 13 species a s threatened From North East. Yadav and Chakadra (1994) reported total disappearacce of some species from the Banding from Brahmaputra since 1975 onwards. babes dyochei!us and Pqystus scittatus have not been reported by them since I977 From river Brahamaputra. Recent report (Biswas and Barua, 2001) show clominawcy of undersized fishes in fish landings i n North Eastern states especiaiby from Brahamaputra river system.

Of the 587 freshwater fishes reported in Indra, 320 were assessed En a sjx-day Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) workshop under t h e Biodiversity Consewation Prioritisation workshop jointly organized by NBFGR and Zoo Outreach organization based on International Union for Conservation of Mature and Natural Resources crlteria in 4997. Of the 320 species assessea, about 105 were from North Eastern region of these five are categorized a s criticaEIy endangered { C R ) , one extinct En the wild (EW), 31 are endangered (EM), 46 are vulnerable (Vuj , 42 are lower risk near threatened (FR-nt), eight are Lower risk !east concern fLR-lc) and three are data deficient (DDJ. Of the North East species, 513 species were not covered in CAMP evaluation. Based on IUGN Red-list criteria and availabie information, the experts at the CAMP workshop had concluded that one species Qsteobrama belangen (Valenciennes) a s extinct in the wild. Later interactions with other fishery experts from North East indicated that 0. behngeri is not extinct from all locations from North East and the earlier CAMP assessment was based on local extinction of some populations of this species, In a very recent survey conducted by Loktak Development Authority, Manipur 0. tielganger! was collected from Loktak Lake (Singh, 1999). The five species under CR category are Garra /itanensis, 6. manipumsis, Slborichathys garoensis, Lepidocephalus goalparensb and Pangasius pangasius. Of these, three species are endemic to this region. Thirty one species categorised as endangered are also facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. Eleven of the endangered species are endemic. Some of the Impoflant fishes listed under this category are Tor p~titora! T. tor, OmpodC bimacu/atus, 8. pabda, Aborichthys eelongatus, A. tkaderi and Nemachei!us multi-ifasciatus. Forty six species are assessed under vuinerabie (Vu) category which indicates that they are also facing a high risk in the rnediunt future.

The definition for endemic fish is "the fish species B endemic to a country or a drainage system where it is native and described". The Issue of endemisrn has great relevance considering the current legislation regarding patenting of species. The pre-eliminasy evaluation by NBFGR reveals that out of 187 fishes 52 species (33.16%) appears to be endemic to this region. Sen (1985) identified 48 species (25.6%) out of 187 species to be endemic to Assam and the neighbouring North Eastern states of India. Ghosh and lipton (1982) reported 33 species (19.1%) as restricted in their distribution to this region. The above variation in endemicity of the North East region Fishes needs further studies. In conservation programmes, priority is to be given to the endemic species.

me above categorisation needs further validation to confirm their current status on the

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oasis of data on distribution and abundance of the concerned species, Moreover, the fish species composition of a particular river/stream stretch studied earlier, require ro be again evaluated by surveys to asses the present status. Limitations of data on the distribution of fish species in the drainages with reference to seasonality and location are the major iactgnae En ascertaining their present conservation status in this region. Therefore, it is necessary to undertake surveys to coHect data on theis abundance, catch per unit effort, weight and fength.

To co81ect such information, The NBFGR through its coibaborative network with Clnivenities, ICAW Institutes, State Fisheries Depa~ments and NGO's located in the North East i-egion is genera"Eng location specific data on various waterbodies. The NBFGR has just Initiated a Nationai Agricultural Te~hnoiogy Project (MAT&") z~iith Jocal collaborators and wiii be in a position to generate data which woufd help in both consewation as weH! as sustainable commerciai utilisation of these species.

References

Biswas, S.P. and S, Boruah. 2000. Probierns and prospects for the developmeot of fisheries in the Brahmaputra basin. In: Fish Germplasm Inventorg and Conseavation is: North East India (Eds. A.G. Ponniah and U.X. Sarkar), NBFGR, Elickno*sd, ...... p.

CAMP, 1998. Repoi3 of the L V C H ~ S ~ C P P on "Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) for Freshwater Fisher of India." Zoo Outreach organization and NBFGR, bucknow, 22-26 September, 1997, India, 1-156 p.

Ghosh, S.K. and A.P. Lipton, 1982. Ichthyofauna of the N.E.H. Region with special reference to their economic importance. ICAR Spl. Bu4letin No. B (ICAR Research Cornpiex, Shillsng), 119-126 p.

KoRelat, M. and T. Whitten, 1996. Freshwater Biodiversity in Asia with special reference Po Fish: World Bank Tech. Paper No. 343. The %4Jarld Bank, laashiregton, DC, 17-22 p.

Mahanta, P.C., S.M. Srivastava and S,K. Paul, 1998. Preliminay aassessment of fish germplasm resources of North East Region to evolve strategy for consewation. New Agricuiturist, 8 (1).

Wath, P. and S.C. Dey, 1989. Fish and Fisheries of North East India. Voi. I, 1-143p.

Sen, Nibedita, 2000. Occurrence, distribution and status of diversified fish fauna of North East India. In: Fish Germplasm Inventor\p and Conservation in North East India (Eds. A.G. Ponniah and U.K. Sarkar), NBFGR, Lucknow, ...... p.

Sen, T.K., 1985, The fish fauna of Assam and the neighbouring Noeh Eastern States of India. Occasionai paper No. 64, Records of Zoological Survey of India, pp. 1-216.

Singh R.T., 1999. Sustainable Fisheries Development of Loktak bake. Abstracts r International Conference on Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems : Health, management and Conservation, 25-30 October, NainitaQ. Qrganised by National Institute of Ecology. 154p.

Sinha, M., 1994. Threatened Coidwater Fishes of North Eastern Region of India. In: Threatened fishes of India (Eds. P.V. Dehadrai, P. Das and S.R. Verrna), Natcon Publication, 4 : IJJ- 176g.

Sinha, M., 1994. Fish Genetic Resources of the North Eastern Region of India, 3 . Inland Fish. Soc. India, ZQi(9t) : 1-19p.

Evaluation of North-East Indian Fishes for their Potential as Cultivable, Sport and Ornam.

economic value. This indicates great potential of freshwater fisheries in the state of North Eas Tndia hv u t j l iz in~ indigenous fish species.

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Vadava, Y.S. and R. Chandra 1994. Some threatened carps and catfishes of Braharnaputra rives system, In: Threatened Fishes of India (Eds. P.V. Dehadrai, P. Das & SS.. Verma), Natcon Publication, 4 : 45-55p.