Status of fish species diversity in ghaghat river in northern bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract : Fish species diversity and it’s conservation status of Ghaghat river in northern region of Bangladesh was investigated by field sampling using a taxonomic guide, FishBase data and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation index. The study revealed that a total of 55 species of fishes belonging to 45 genera, 22 families and 9 orders were found in the river. Among the identified fish orders, Cypriniformes was the highest diverse group with 34% species abundance followed by Siluriformes and Perciformes with 24% each. On the other hand, fishes under the orders Beloniformes, Decapoda, and Tetradontiformes were the least abundant (2%). Fish species diversity was found prominent during the monsoon. Based on IUCN conservation index 6(11%), 10(18%) and 7(13%) species in Ghaghat river were identified as critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable respectively. A total 14 types of fishing gear under 8 major groups were found to operate in the studied river, which included some banned gears like gill net and seine net. An effective conservation strategy needs to be developed to stop indiscriminate fishing and to conserve the fish biodiversity in Ghaghat river.