- Regulated fishing is a vital conservation tool.
- Professional management is essential to the long-term welfare of our freshwater species .
- Freshwater fish resources are renewable and when wisely managed, will indefinitely provide numerous public benefits such as fishing, exporting and wildlife viewing.
- Public participation is essential for effective resource management.
6 comments:
Dear Friend,
The main problem is that there is no fresh water in kerala
I can understand your sentiments, Tony... we use 'freshwater species' to distinguish them from marine species. Thanks anyway.
Watery grave in India for rare fish
KS Sudhi
KOCHI: India, once considered as one of the `mega bio-diversity' nations of the world, is fast becoming the killing fields for many a rare fish, thanks to unsustainable and unethical fishing practices that thrive in the country.
A recently concluded workshop on the Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) for Indian fresh water fishes has identified 47 fish varieties that are on the verge of extinction. It was on the lines of the International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCN) `red-list' category guidelines that the status of fish varieties was assessed at the workshop jointly organised by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Zoo Outreach organisation and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, India.
The IUCN red data book is used worldwide as a guideline to help assess the conservation status of all species present on the earth. The red book categorises the species as ``extinct face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future),endangered (that which are not critically endangered but face high risk of extinction), vulnerable (species which faces high risk of extinction in the medium future) and low risk group'' on the basis of the threat they are facing.
Of the 327 varieties found in the country for which detailed data are available, 47 have been identified as critically endangered. The study also categorised 98 species as endangered, 82 as vulnerable and 80 among the low risk group.
The analysis also brings to light the threat faced by fish varieties of Kerala, especially that of the Western Ghats, which has been identified as a `bio-diversity hot spot' by the United Nations.
When the status of 90 varieties were analysed, 18 were found to be critically endangered of which 13 are endemic to Kerala waters. The study also classified 31 species in the `endangered' and 13 each as `vulnerable' and `low risk' groups. Of the total 700 species present in the country, Kerala waters alone is home to as many as 170 varieties.
Channamicropeitus, a critically endangered variety of the `Snake Head' group found only in Pampa river, recorded 99 per cent decline in its original population due to various factors like the fish disease Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, dynamite and other destructive types of fishing activities, habitat alteration, poisoning and pollution, said Dr Madhusoodana Kurup of Cochin University of Science and technology, who was among the scientists who represented the State at the workshop.
The population of the endangered `Blind Cat Fish', found only in the subterranean channels connecting the deep wells of Kottayam region, also declined by more than 95 per cent due to habitat destruction.
Of the 31 endangered species of Kerala, 13 are found to be endemic to Kerala waters. The vulnerable category included commercially important species like Muzhi Clarias Dussumieri and Arangil Pampassis Thomassi. The population of these species recorded a decline of 20-70 per cent over the past 10 years.
``Unsustainable andunethical fishing practices like wanton fishing, dynamiting, poisoning and all other indiscriminate fishing methods coupled with perils from pollution are taking their toll,'' Kurup said. The habitat loss due to dredging of lakes and rivers, alteration of river courses, construction of dams and canals besides other man-made reasons have also proved detrimental to the species, he said. The situation demands the enactment of specific provisions to protect the fish varieties, he added.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
regulated fishing and participation of public...all r not new idea.fisheries dept has some projects.i guess no one knows the real meaning participation f public.fishermen are facing livelihood problems.aLL these biodiversity probs affect them more than....wt r u suggesting for regulation of fishing.What abt the policy level interventions and sincere implementations? regulating fishermen is easy..but policy level change and implementation may tough. Can we( out siders) guarantee a intervention wthout harful effect to fishermen?
Regulations should be brought in place after ample deleberation based on reliable data and research. I'm not for blind legislation withou gaining a better understanding of how fishermen and their communities are impacted by fisheries regulations.
Dear frnd thanks for ur concern abt fishermen , my communitty
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