Abstract
The study was carried out to obtain information on the present status and trend of finfish diversity of the Old Brahmaputra river, Bangladesh. Samples were collected directly from a professional fishing boat caught by different nets, traps and hooks from January 2019 to December 2019. Together with 4 exotic species, a total of 49 species under 6 families were recorded. Though a biodiversity index of 3.65854 and a dominance index of 0.030929 represent the richness of ichthyo-diversity within the river, Synbranchiformes and Tetraodontiformes were not reported throughout the study period. Linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation between water height of the river and monthly abundance of the species found. Catch composition of catfishes and snakeheads slumped while barbs showed triumph over previous findings. A majority of fish recorded were within the least concern category according to IUCN (2015) but portions also belonged to critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable categories as well. Therefore, conservation measures must be infixed in the Old Brahmaputra river to hold the fish diversity in a sustainable state.
Highlights
Bangladesh, one of the top-ranked countries in capture fisheries (3rd) & inland aquaculture (5th) in the world (FAO, 2018), produces vast amount of fishes and shellfishes (4.277 million MT in FY, 2017–18) every year where capture fisheries contributed about 28.45% of the total country production in 2017–18 (DoF, 2018)
Outstanding physical attributes characterized by favorable soil condition, sufficient water flow and depth throughout the year, meteorological environment, and the richness of biodiversity made the Old Brahmaputra river basin as one of the most fecund ecosystems from the perspective of fisheries and aquaculture in Bangladesh (Sania and Nesar, 2016)
The overall finfish found in current study are abstracted in table (Table 1) with their local conservation status according to IUCN (2015)
Summary
Bangladesh, one of the top-ranked countries in capture fisheries (3rd) & inland aquaculture (5th) in the world (FAO, 2018), produces vast amount of fishes and shellfishes (4.277 million MT in FY, 2017–18) every year where capture fisheries contributed about 28.45% of the total country production in 2017–18 (DoF, 2018). The freshwater ecosystems of Bangladesh are much enriched (Shamsuzzaman et al, 2017; Newaz and Rahman, 2019), supporting at least 265 finfish and 24 prawn species (DoF 2018). Among the 1,300 floral and faunal species niched by this rich freshwater ecosystem, about 600 are endemic to the Brahmaputra river basin (Kabir et al, 2012). Outstanding physical attributes characterized by favorable soil condition, sufficient water flow and depth throughout the year, meteorological environment, and the richness of biodiversity made the Old Brahmaputra river basin as one of the most fecund ecosystems from the perspective of fisheries and aquaculture in Bangladesh (Sania and Nesar, 2016). In many cases, fishing in this river is the pivotal and only means of livelihood available for traditional and amateur fishing communities (Mahmud, 2013)
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