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This electronic thesis or dissertation has been downloaded from the King’s Research Portal at https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/ RIVER CONSERVATION IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION Gupta, Nishikant Awarding institution: King's College London The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without proper acknowledgement. END USER LICENCE AGREEMENT Unless another licence is stated on the immediately following page this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the work Under the following conditions: Attribution: You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). Non Commercial: You may not use this work for commercial purposes. No Derivative Works - You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you receive permission from the author. Your fair dealings and other rights are in no way affected by the above. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 09. Oct. 2021 RIVER CONSERVATION IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION by NISHIKANT GUPTA A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of PhD University of London 2014 _____________________________________________________________ Department of Geography Fourth Floor King’s College London Strand Campus Strand London - WC2R 2LS United Kingdom Supervisor: Dr Michael A. Chadwick Prof Nick Drake Acknowledgement: Dr Vinod B. Mathur Dr K. Sivakumar _____________________________________________________________ 1 UNIVERSITY OF LONDON ABSTRACT RIVER CONSERVATION IN THE INDIAN HIMALAYAN REGION by Nishikant Gupta Abstract Rivers have a multitude of important functions and provide crucial services to millions of people. However, rivers currently face severe anthropogenic threats due to an expanding human population and a surge in water demand. The fish species present within rivers provide a source of protein to some poorer sections of communities and present ecological and socio-economic opportunities for various stakeholders, (i.e. village members, catch-and- release (C&R) angling associations, C&R anglers, forest managers, and conservationists). To protect rivers and their fish species in the Indian Himalayan region, critical stressors and novel conservation strategies were investigated. Terrestrial Protected Areas (tPAs) are applied management tools for biodiversity conservation in the region, and along with existing managed reaches, (i.e. temple pools and angling pools) could protect river ecosystems from pressures such as over fishing, habitat degradation and fragmentation, and pollution. Although under scrutiny for its probable effects on aquatic ecosystems, C&R angling as a leisure activity could protect target 2 fish species through associated socio-economic opportunities, and could act as a monitoring tool for fish species. A global online survey conducted among C&R anglers visiting Indian rivers revealed their willingness to assist with conservation projects targeting prime angling fish species. In view of the current benefits associated with global flagship species and examined support among local stakeholders in the study area, an attempt was made to promote a freshwater fish as a flagship conservation species for wider benefits to river ecosystems. With the present available support among local stakeholders and novel applicable conservation opportunities for river ecosystems, an innovative strategy, i.e. setting up of Freshwater Fish Safe Zones (FFSZs) was proposed to the State and Central Government of India to bring about long-term ecological and socio-economic benefits to Indian rivers and local stakeholders. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………... 02 Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………….. 04 Table of figures………………………………………………………………………………. 08 Table of tables………………………………………………………………………………... 11 Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………. 13 Chapter 1: Introduction.................................................................................................. 15 1.1 Background………………………………………………………………………………... 15 1.2 Potential conservation strategies and management tools for protecting rivers and 22 their fish species………………………………………………………………………………. 1.2.1 Terrestrial protected areas (tPAs) and river ecosystems…………………………... 23 1.2.2 The role of religion in conserving freshwater fishes………………………………… 24 1.2.3 Catch-and-release (C&R) angling as a monitoring tool for freshwater fishes……. 30 1.2.4 Freshwater fish species as a flagship conservation species………………………. 31 1.3 The aim and objectives of the study……………………………………………………. 33 1.4 The organization of the thesis…………………………………………………………… 35 1.5 The structure and associated limitations of the study………………………………… 36 Chapter 2: Study area………………………………………………………………………... 43 2.1 The north-Indian Himalayan State of Uttarakhand……………………………………. 44 2.2 The Corbett National Park……………………………………………………………….. 47 2.3 The Rajaji National Park…………………………………………………………………. 51 2.4 The Kosi river……………………………………………………………………………… 56 2.5 The Ramganga river……………………………………………………………………… 60 2.6 The Khoh river…………………………………………………………………………….. 64 2.7 The streams (within and outside Rajaji National Park) ………………………………. 68 4 Chapter 3: Terrestrial protected areas and managed reaches for threatened 74 freshwater fish conservation ………………………………………………………………… 3.1 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….. 74 3.2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………... 75 3.3 Methods……………………………………………………………………………………. 78 3.4 Results…………………………………………………………………………………...... 84 3.5 Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………. 90 Chapter 4: Status of recreational fisheries in India: development, issues and 97 opportunities………………………………………………………………………………….... 4.1 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….. 97 4.2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………... 98 4.3 Development of recreational fisheries in India………………………………………… 101 4.4 Recent developments in Indian recreational fisheries………………………………... 105 4.5 Methodology………………………………………………………………………………. 108 4.5.1 India-specific recreational fisheries survey………………………………………….. 108 4.6 Findings……………………………………………………………………………………. 110 4.7 Issues facing the present recreational angling sector in India……………………….. 120 4.7.1 Lack of information on basic biology and taxonomy of game fish………………… 120 4.7.2 Lack of understanding of biotic responses to capture and release……………….. 122 4.7.3 Need for development and dissemination of best practises for sustainable 123 angling promotion……………………………………………………………………………... 4.7.4 Unregulated stocking and introductions……………………………………………… 125 4.7.5 Fisheries focused on biodiversity hotspots………………………………………….. 127 4.7.6 Poorly defined governance structures……………………………………………….. 127 4.7.7 Need for science-based adaptive management…………………………………….. 129 4.7.8 Poor stakeholder engagement………………………………………………………... 130 4.7.9 Conflict between recreational fisheries and other activities………………………... 131 4.7.10 Lack of representative data from the recreational fishery sector………………… 132 4.8 Realizing opportunities for the future…………………………………………………… 132 5 4.9 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 136 Chapter 5: Assessing recreational fisheries in an emerging economy: knowledge, 138 perceptions and attitudes of catch-and-release anglers in India………………………… 5.1 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….. 138 5.2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………... 139 5.3 Methods……………………………………………………………………………………. 141 5.4 Results and discussion…………………………………………………………………... 143 5.5 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………… 153 Chapter 6: Catch-and-release angling as a management tool for freshwater fish 156 conservation in India………………………………………………………………………….. 6.1 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….. 156 6.2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………... 156 6.3 Study area…………………………………………………………………………………. 157 6.4 Methods……………………………………………………………………………………. 157 6.5 Results……………………………………………………………………………………... 158 6.5.1 Catch data………………………………………………………………………………. 158 6.5.2 Stakeholder’s views……………………………………………………………………. 158 6.5.2.1 Conservation benefits………………………………………………………………... 159 6.5.2.2 Economic incentives…………………………………………………………………. 159 6.5.2.3 Conservation concerns………………………………………………………………. 159 6.6 Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………. 160 Chapter 7: The ‘tiger of Indian rivers’: stakeholders’ perspectives on the golden 163 mahseer as a flagship fish species………………………………………………………….. 7.1 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………….. 163 7.2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………... 163 7.3 Study area…………………………………………………………………………………. 164 7.4 Methodology………………………………………………………………………………. 164 6 7.5 Results……………………………………………………………………………………... 164 7.6 Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………. 168 Chapter 8: Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….. 172 References……………………………………………………………………………………. 189 Appendices I: Administrative map of India………………………………………………………………... 226 II: Biogeographic classification of India…………………………………………………….. 227 III: The Indian Himalayan region and its principal rivers………………………………….. 228 IV: Stressors impacting the Indian Himalayan region,