S. K. Ghosh; A. G. Ponniah

Authors

S. K. Ghosh Technical Services Department (Fisheries), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Maharashtra R. O., 54, Wellesley Road, Post Bag No.5, Shivaji Nagar, Pune — 411 005, India
A. G. Ponniah Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, 75, Santhome High Road, Chennai — 600028, India

Keywords:

Ganges, Hilsa, biodiversity, conservation, floodplain

Abstract

India is a land of diverse topography, climate and natural resource. There are 12 major rivers and 48 lesser rivers with a total catchment area of 277.6 million ha. The freshwater resources of the country, which are varied, harbor 587 species of finfishes, and account for 9.3 percent of global inland fish production. India's natural capital of fish habitat resource has been eroded as reflected in loss of biodiversity and reduced fish landings.

Studies on the ecology, environment and fisheries of five major river systems, in addition to reservoirs and flood plain lake fisheries, have been conducted with greater focus on water quality and less on physical habitat parameters.

River conservation programs cover major rivers in 10 states of the country; the ‘Ganga Action Plan’ being the most important. These projects target improvement in water quality and not fish habitat. Lack of concern for fish habitat is reflected in the planning of Farakka Barrage, a large dam built to divert the flow of River Ganga (The Ganges) into the Hooghly River, and its impact on the ‘Hilsa’ run. Environmental laws have not achieved desired results for lack of enforcement mechanisms.

Freshwater habitat management in India raises both concern and hope. Concern arises out of the missing elements in current fish habitat research, planning and management of resource. The hope for the future is increasing public awareness on the need for better resource management and environmental conservation. In the backdrop of the learning from implementation of the eco-restoration programmes, the task appears to be not only challenging but also demanding in terms of participation of stakeholders, commitment of resources, backup of research support, monitoring of environmental standards, enforcement of regulations and setting up of priorities in terms of conservation of the natural assets.

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