Fish fauna of river Ujh, an important tributary of the river Ravi, District Kathua, Jammu

Abstract

Fish survey of river Ujh, an important clean water tributary of the river Ravi, in Kathua district, has revealed the presence of 42 fish species belonging to 5 orders, 10 families and 27 genera. Fish fauna is dominated by Cypriniformes (27 species), followed by Siluriformes (10 species), Synbranchiformes (2 species), Perciformes (2 species) and Beloniformes (1 species). Fishing methods commonly employed include cast net, rod and hook, pocket net, poisoning, hand picking, stick, sickle and simple cloth. Fish diversity is fast depleting due to over exploitation, illegal fishing methods and fishing during breeding season. There are great prospects of increasing fish production in this river by stocking various carps in seasonal Ujh barrage at village Jasrota.