PRESENT STATUS OF ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES IN SYLHET

Abstract

The present survey was conducted for a period of 8 months from April to November 2014 in 4 fish markets in Study area namely Bandar Bazar Fish Market, Mahatabpur Matsha Arat, Kazir Bazar Fish Market and Tuker Bazar Fish Market. Fish species found in different fish markets were identified in situ. In the present survey, 79 fish species were found in the study area among which 17 species were endangered (21.51%), 13 were vulnerable (16.46%), 8 were critically endangered (10.13%), 6 were exotic (7.59%), 27 were near threatened (34.17%), 3 were not evaluated (3.81%) and 5 species were not threatened (6.32%). Among the 79 identified species, 38 were threatened which comprises 48.10% of the individuals basis of the study area. Among 28 endangered fish species in Bangladesh, 17 were encountered in the study area. Among identified endangered fish species in the study area, the most dominating species on the basis of total individuals was Tengra (Mystus tengra) 21.36% followed by Bata (Labeo bata) 16.12%, , Darkina (Esomusdanricus) 12.43%, Dhela (Osteobrama cotio) 10.32%, Rani (Botia dario) 6.81%, Pabda (Ompok pabo) 6.3%, Baim (Mastacembelus armatus) 5.7% Modhu pabda (Ompok pabda) 5.7%, Boali pabda (Ompok bimaculatus) 3.92%, Kalibaush (Labeo calbasu) 2.73%, Gozar (Channa marulius)2.23% Gonia (Labeo gonius) 2.15%, Putul (Botia lohachata) 1.72%, Chital (Chitala chitala) 1.1%, Nuilla ayre (Sperata seenghala) 0.79%, Kala bata (Crossocheilus latius) 0.37% and Chaca (Chaca chaca) 0.25%. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') of the survey area found to be oscillated from 2.09 (Tuker Bazar fish market) to 2.48 (Kazir Bazar fish market) with mean value of 2.3±0.16. The degree of pollution based on the assortment of the Shannon-Weaver diversity index as recommended by Biligrami (1988) was found to be light pollution. In case of Margalef richness index, the minimum value was recorded in Tuker Bazar fish market 1.25 and maximum in Kazir Bazar fish market 1.53 with mean value of 1.42±0.12. The peak evenness value 0.9 was documented from Kazir Bazar fish market and minimum from 0.79 from Tuker Bazar fish market with mean value of 0.84±0.05. The evenness values found from the study indicating the uneven distribution of the endangered fish species in the study area. The maximum dominance value was 0.88 observed in Mahatabpur Matssho Arat and minimum 0.84 in Tuker Bazar fish market with mean value of 0.87±0.02. Among the 17 documented endangered fish species in the study area 12 species were rarely available and rest 5 species were found to be available. On the basis of presence of endangered fish species in four studied markets, highest number of fish species 17 was documented from Kazir Bazar Fish Market, followed by 16 in Bandar Bazar Fish Market, 16 in Mahatabpur Matssho Arat, and least 14 in Tuker Bazar Fish Market. The percentage distribution of the endangered fish species indicates that the overall condition of the fish species is not good except few species in the study area. As these fishes are still available in the study area, for that reason, to protect their biodiversity stringent rules and regulations is needed particularly during the breeding season to ensure their sustainable conservation in the study areas.