Assessment of Fish Biodiversity and Fishing Practices of the Old Brahmaputra River, Bangladesh

摘要

The present study deals with the status of fish biodiversity undertaken during period January 2012to September 2012 to assess the fish biodiversity and understand the existing fishing practices of the OldBrahmaputra River, Bangladesh. The study was based on primary observations, questionnaire interviews withfishers, focus group discussions with river bank community members and cross-check interviews with keyinformants. A total of 39 species of fish belonging to 17 common groups were identified in the catches of theOld Brahmaputra River. Survey with fishers shows that among these varieties of fish, the highest amount offish caught by the fishers was catfishes at about 16.62%. However, the lowest amount catch constituted theminor carp of about 1.29%. After the catfish, the second highest catch was 12.9% of small prawn. Anotherdominant group major carps contained 11.26% and barbs remained at 11%. Snakeheads constituted 9.61% ofthe catch and the loaches constituted 1.3% of the total catch. In addition other groups like molacarplet, mullet,gourami, spiny eels, climbing perch, tank goby, minnows, spiny eels, freshwater garfish, perchlet and river shadwere found in the Old Brahmaputra River. The threats to the fisheries biodiversity in the study area alsoreported in this study. Results of the study also revealed that three kinds of fishers were engaged in the OldBrahmaputra River, namely professional fishers, seasonal fishers and subsistence fishers. Seven types offishing gears like seine net, gill net, cast net, push net, lift net, trap and hook and line were used to fish by thefishers during the survey period. This study indicates a need to identify areas of high fish biodiversity and toselect nature reserves to mitigate the loss of fish biodiversity in the Old Brahmaputra River basin.