Abstract
This study was conducted to monitor the present condition of endangered fishes and productivity of Teesta river closest to Teesta barrage situated in the Lalmonirhat district of Bangladesh. Water and sediment samples were collected twice in a month during the study period from six different (3 upstream and 3 downstream) sites with three replications for each. Required information about threatened fishes was collected from the sampling region associated fishermen and fish markets. The study disclosed over 50 threatened fish species in Teesta river including several threatened fishes namely Bagarius bagarius, Sisor rabdophorus etc. The commonly available endangered fishes were Macrognathus aculiatus, Mastacembelus armatus, Barilius tileo, Raiamas bola, Botia dario, B. lohachata etc. which are rarely available in nationwide. Planktonic flora and fauna determination revealed that comparatively higher density of plankton (n >11500 per liter) as well as more number of planktonic flora (>21 nos.) and fauna (>9 nos.) were monitored in the early monsoon and monsoon season (April-September) and comparatively lower planktonic density (n<10000 per liter) and less number were found in premonsoon season (January-February). The investigation of benthic fauna showed that the riverine ecosystem near to barrage contained 16 species of macro-benthos from different groups. Lastly, it can be noticed that it is very essential to take all effective necessary actions to provide good productivity and conserve the ichthyo diversity of Teesta river that will help to conserve the commonly available endangered and critically endangered fishes of Teesta river.
 Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(3): 577-589, December 2020
Highlights
Teesta is one of the longest rivers of the northern part of Bangladesh and makes a total run of about 170 km from its entrance into Bangladesh to the Kamargani Mouza of Gaibandha where it merges with Brahmaputra River just south of Chilmari Thana of Kurigram district
Present status of endangered fishes in Teesta barrage region of Teesta river The natural water bodies of the Northwest part of Bangladesh were blessed with small indigenous fish species
The availability of indigenous fishes is declining due to various man-made and natural stressors nationally, most of the threatened fishes of Bangladesh are available in different natural waters of Rangpur and Dinajpur districts
Summary
Teesta is one of the longest rivers of the northern part of Bangladesh and makes a total run of about 170 km from its entrance into Bangladesh to the Kamargani Mouza of Gaibandha where it merges with Brahmaputra River just south of Chilmari Thana of Kurigram district. The Teesta dependent area covers almost the entire greater Rangpur district which includes Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Rangpur, located in the north-eastern part of the country (Islam et al, 2014). Teesta river has great importance for bearing country’s largest irrigations project. Teesta Barrage is located on Teesta river at Duani in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district. A flood embankment of about 80 km has been constructed for the provide protection from flood to the adjoining areas This was designed to provide irrigation water, flood protection and drainage facilities for 749000 ha of cultivated land. The gross benefited area of the Teesta barrage project is 750,000 ha, of which 540,000 ha is irrigable. The Teesta Barrage is the largest irrigation project in the country which spreads over seven districts in greater Rangpur, Dinajpur and Bogura. The report of World Commission on Dams, (2000) noted that large dams and diversion projects can led to the loss of forests and wildlife habitat, aquatic biodiversity and can affect downstream floodplains, wetlands, reveries’, estuarine and adjacent marine ecosystem
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