Biodiversity conservation of Hirakud reservoir

Abstract

Lack of Inland fisheries legislation encourages the use of indiscriminate fishing gears and fishing activities during closed season in Hirakud reservoir of Orissa. The use of mosquito net to catch forage fishes and juveniles of commercially important fishes has reduced the original fish stocks resulting in sharp decline in the fish production from 750 tonnes in 1978-79 to 235 tonnes in 2000-2001 and reduction in percentage of major carps in catches. This has happened due to indiscriminate killing of brooders and juveniles of commercially important fishes using destructive gears. There would be a dangerous alarm to the biodiversity of the largest reservoir of the country, if the same will be continued in future. The cause of the present crisis and suggestions for the future management of the reservoir to conserve the biodiversity have been discussed in this paper.