Fish And Fisheries Of River Ganga

Ankita

M. Sc. Zoology (IV Sem.)Fishery Science and Aquaculture

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY

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.

Routes of River Ganga

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

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.

COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISHES(A). Indian Major carpsCatla catlaLabeo rohitaCirrhina mrigala

B).Other CarpsLabeo bataLabeo deroCirrhinus reba

(C). Large cat fishesSperata aorSperata seenghalaSilonia silondiaWallaga attuPangasius pangasiusBagarius bagariusRita rita

(D). Other catfishesClupisoma garuaEutropiichthys vachaAilia coilaOmpok bimaculatusOmpak pabda

(E).ClupeoidesHilsa ilishaSetipinna phasaGudusia chapra

(F).Feather backsNotopterus notopterusNotopterus chitala

(G).Exotic and other fishesCyprinus carpioOreochromis niloticusAristichthys nobilisCtenopharyngodon idellaHypophthalmichthys molitrixClarias gariepinusPuntius sophorePuntius conchoniusChanna punctataChanna maruliusChanna striata

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.

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.

Fishes of Lower GangaThe 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, clupeiods and featherbacks.

Fishing GearsHook 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.

FISH LANDINGS (TONNES) AT DIFFERENT CENTRES ON GANGA RIVER

(COMPILED FROM CIFRI ANNUAL REPORTS, 1970, 80, 90, 2000, 2007)

EXOTIC FISHES

FISHERIES AT ALLAHABAD

Fish landing at Allahabad (CIFRI Annual Reports 1961-2007)

Factors influencing the declining rate of fishes in River Ganga

1. Climate change2. Dams, Barrages and Hydropower projects3. Pollution4. Invasion of Exotic species

Recommendations for Sustainable Fisheries in the Ganga 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.• Public awareness among people to reduce socio-economic

pressure on the selected fish species.

• Recently 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.

Thank You!!