Abstract
Aquatic freshwater fish diversity immensely declines from several native places in West Bengal. Lots of freshwater fish have been extricated and some become endangered or vulnerable in condition as well as in Keleghai river. Aquatic ecosystem meltdown or crisis due to anthropogenic intervention resulted disappearance of eco-sensitive species. Such, appearance of Boal (Wallago attu) fish in this river was very common but now it’s very amazing to see or to catch it. The number of this species decreased radically before some decades. The present study conducts an empirical investigation to find out the reasons are behind it. Lacking of printed information, the work concentrated on knowledge and perception of experienced fisherman for understanding the fact by interviewing method. After qualitative investigation, the study recommends that simplification of food web in this aquatic ecosystem is the major cause of abandonment of Attu fish in this river. Other important causes are advance unethical fishing techniques, habitat loss, and enormous use of chemical pesticide and fertilizer in wetlands.
Highlights
Attu fish is usually famous as helicopter catfish
The main intent of the present study is to find out the specific reasons for Boal fish abandonment from Keleghai river
Four specific reasons are prescribed near to the informer. These are (i) shortage of food that means inefficiency of aquatic faunal species in their food chain, (ii) losses of habitat means modified aquatic ecosystem to other ecosystems, (iii) high demand in society for test and food and (iv) modern techniques means traditional to modern method to catch this fish. 52% of respondents claimed that shortage of food in their food chain is the main cause of abandonment of this fish (Figure 1)
Summary
Attu fish is usually famous as helicopter catfish This species is found in South East Asia in rivers, lakes, wetlands, floodplains, tanks, beels, haors, jheels and adjoining river canals (Talwar et al, 1991; Roberts, 1993; Tripathi, 1996). This aquatic predator consumes all aquatic faunal species actively from top to bottom of the habitat besides fish fry, insects, crustaceans are listed in their food list (Karamchandani, 1957; Alikunhi, 1957; Hora, 1962; Islam et al, 2006; Thella et al, 2018). This fish has an identity as freshwater shark (Hora, 1962)
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