FISH-DIVERSITY IN THE KURA RIVER OF BANGLADESH: PATTERNS AND THREATS

SANZIB KUMAR BARMAN; MRITYUNJOY KUNDA; SABUJ KANTI MAZUMDER; MD NAHIDUZZAMAN; PARTHO PROTIM BARMAN; SIMON KUMAR DAS

doi:10.55230/mabjournal.v50i3.2208

Authors

SANZIB KUMAR BARMAN Aquatic Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh; Current address: Department of Fishery Resources Conservation & Management, Faculty of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna-9100
MRITYUNJOY KUNDA Aquatic Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
SABUJ KANTI MAZUMDER
sabujgfb@bsmrau.edu.bd
Genetics and Fish Breeding, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
MD NAHIDUZZAMAN WorldFish, Bangladesh and South Asia, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
PARTHO PROTIM BARMAN Coastal and Marine Fisheries, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh; College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
SIMON KUMAR DAS Department of Earth Sciences and Environmental, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi Selangor, D.E., Malaysia

Keywords:

catch volume, fish diversity, fishing gears, habitat degradation, threats

Abstract

The study was aimed to investigate the current status and threats of fisheries resources in the Kura River, Bangladesh. Monthly fish catch surveys were carried out from December 2015 to November 2016 in four catchment areas at Hasinarghat, Kandir-dor, Pulertol, and Barartok. In addition, questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) were done to clarify perceptions about the Kura River fishery status. A total of 59 fish species from 22 families were documented and of which 27% were threatened. The values of diversity (H), richness (D), and evenness (J’) were calculated at 3.599, 4.345, and 0.921 respectively. The highest catch volume was recorded 19800±7722.71 kg in November 2016 at the Kandirdor and the lowest 225±110.65 kg in March 2016 at the Barartok (p<0.05). The upstream blockage (man-made dam) in the Kura River was identified as the main cause of fish habitat change, decrease fish biodiversity, and production of this River. Therefore, the findings of this study exposed that the conservation of fish has become urgent. In this regard, the baseline scenario of the Kura River biodiversity and threats will help to make awareness to take necessary conservation strategy as well as the need for further in-depth study.