A review on status, potentials, threats and challenges of the fish biodiversity of West Bengal.

Abstract

Explorations and germplasm inventories of fish biodiversity in the aquatic water bodies of India are being progressively updated and analysed with several new discoveries however; a well-defined number of existing fish species at regional/state level remains to be determined. Of the total freshwater fish diversity of the country, imperilment ranges from 10-13% indicates widespread and pervasive degradation of aquatic freshwater fish habitats. The State of West Bengal is endowed with 7.5% of the water resource of the country and that is becoming increasingly scarce with the uncontrolled growth of population, expansion of irrigation network and developmental needs. Concern over declining harvests and an obvious reduction in biodiversity of fish species has led to a more holistic approach to fisheries management and research. The state is endowed with vast aquatic resources in the form of rivers, ponds/tanks, reservoir, beel and boar, brackish water fishery and also predominated by several wetlands. Perusal of literature reveals that several scattered information on fish biodiversity of West Bengal is available. In the present review, altogether, 190 native freshwater fish species were recorded from the West Bengal contributing nearly 23% of the Indian freshwater fishes. The presented review highlighted a concise review of Indian fish biodiversity, analyse the threats, challenges, conservation programmes and offer hope for the future of the nation’s imperilled freshwater fish sustainability of the West Bengal. Conserving the biodiversity of these fishes and at the same time managing their exploitation in a sustainable way is a difficult exercise. The diverse assemblages of freshwater species of the state should be targeted by all who have a stake in our freshwater heritage. This paper highlights the pattern of freshwater fish biodiversity in many perspectives, utilization, threats and discusses the management strategies to be implemented for the conservation of freshwater fish diversity in the state.