World Journal of Zoology 10 (1): 17-21, 2015 ISSN 1817-3098 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjz.2015.10.1.91149 Check-List of Fish Availability in the Karatoya River, Bangladesh 1Md. Mostafizur Rahman Mondol, 12Md. Yeamin Hossain and Md. Mosaddequr Rahman 1Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi. Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh 2 Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, 4-50-20 Shimoarata, Kagoshima 890-0056, Japan Abstract: The present study was conducted in the Karatoya River; Bangladesh to find out the fish species availability during January 2012 to December 2012. Samples were accumulated fortnightly from the fishermen catch fished in different points of the River from Shibganj Upazila to Bogra Sadar Upazila. The present study revealed 49 species of fish under 8 orders and 18 families. Cypriniformes was the most dominant order representing 36.74% of the total fish population followed by the Siluriformes (22.45%) and Perciformes (22.45%). On the other hand, Cyprinidae was the most dominant family constituting 31.25% of the total fish population followed by Bagridae (10.20%). Among the available fish species, 18.37% were very rare while 40.82% were rare. Only 30.61% of the total fish population was found throughout the year in a small amount while merely 6.12% was available throughout the year in large quantity. More than half of the fish population available in the Karatoya River is threatened to extinct due to sundry reasons. Lack of water flow throughout the year especially during the dry season was found to be the main threat for fish species conservation in the Karatoya River. Furthermore, siltation, destructive fishing methods, indiscriminate fishing of fry, fingerlings and the brood fish are the additional threats for sustainable fisheries management. Orchestrated dredging program should be commenced to increase the water holding capacity of the river. Fish sanctuaries need to be established which will sanction the fish some sort of shelter during the dry season and heavy fishing pressure. Indiscriminate and destructive fishing must be ostracized and community-based fisheries management should be inspirited. Further detailed studies on fisheries biology including reproductive biology, growth, stock assessment and their association with subsisting laws are essential for the sustainable management and conservation of fish species in the Karatoya River, Bangladesh. Key words: Fish availability Karatoya River Threats Conservation Management Bangladesh INTRODUCTION increment, precipitation reduction and increased water withdrawal for agriculture and other human uses [7, 8]. Freshwater fish are not only the most diverse group There never seems to be sufficient resources to bulwark of vertebrates; they additionally feature the farthest as much of the world’s lands and waters as are essential fraction of threatened species [1]. Freshwater biodiversity to conserve the world’s biodiversity. Lack of resources has dwindled faster than either terrestrial or marine forced to set priorities about where to do conservation biodiversity over the years [2, 3]. The base of the work [9]. Knowledge of the existing resources and their conservation problems of freshwater fish is the fact that condition are, therefore, essential for planning any the freshwater fish occupy comparatively limited space management program for conserving or developing the (i.e. river or lake basins) with very reduced ability for inter- resources. The River Karatoya is one of the important basin movement [4, 5], contrary to the fairly free moving Rivers in Northern Bangladesh. However, due to various marine fish [6]. Declining water flow rate in the river have anthropogenic and natural reasons water flow of this river been the primary cause of species loss. Unfortunately, decreased significantly in recent years threatening the this rate likely to be further reduced by temperatures aquatic biodiversity. Nevertheless, to the best of the Corresponding Author: Mosaddequr Rahman, Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, 4-50-20 Shimoarata, Kagoshima 890-0056, Japan. E-mail: [email protected]. 17 World J. Zool., 10 (1): 17-21, 2015 at the site. Identification was done based on morphometric and meristic characteristics according to [10, 11]. Fish availability, fish price, threats to fish diversity and conservation needs were determined on account of fish abundance during sampling, market survey, interviewing fishermen and fish cognate personnel using pre-structured questionnaire according to Rahman et al. [12, 13]. Fish availability was classified as TY (throughout the year), TYS (throughout the year in small amount), TYL (throughout the year in large amount), SM (found in small amount during monsoon), LM (found in large amount during monsoon), R (rare), VR (very rare) and NE (not evaluated). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The present study recorded a total of 49 fish species under 8 orders and 18 families from the Karatoya River Fig. 1: Map showing the study area in the Karatoya (Table 1). Cypriniformes was the foremost order River (sky-blue lines indicate river and yellow constituting 36.74% of the total fish population followed circles indicate the sampling sites) by the Siluriformes (22.45%), Perciformes (22.45%), Synbranchiformes (8.16%) and Osteoglossiformes erudition, there is no previous information available on (4.08%). On contrary, Beloniformes, Clupeiformes and the availability of fish species in this river. Subsequently, Tetraodontiformes were the least numerous orders this study plans to broaden the knowledge of fish constituting only 2.04% each of the total fish population resources in the Karatoya River, Bangladesh. (Fig. 2). The dominance of the orders Cypriniformes, Siluriformes and Perciformes in freshwater fish population MATERIALS AND METHODS are common in Indian subcontinent [12, 14-18]. Cyprinidae was the most dominant family constituting 31.25% of the The present study was conducted in the Karatoya total fish population followed by Bagridae (10.20%). River, Bangladesh. Samples were collected fortnightly Among the available fish species, 18.37% were very rare from the fishermen catch captured in different points of while 40.82% were rare. 30.61% were found throughout the River from Shibganj Upazila to Bogra Sadar Upazila the year in a small amount while only 6.12% were available (Fig. 1). Fish were caught using cast net, square lift net, throughout the year in a large amount (Fig. 3). conical trap, fish angles, monofilament fixed fill net, fish Frighteningly 14.29% of the available species were line and fish barrier. Samples were fixed with 10% formalin critically endangered, 18.38% were endangered and Fig. 2: Number of threatened to extinction and non-threatened fish species under different order in Karatoya River 18 World J. Zool., 10 (1): 17-21, 2015 Fig. 3: Fish species availability in the Karatoya River, Bangladesh Table 1: Check-list of fish availability in the Karatoya River, Bangladesh Order Family Scientific name Local name Availability Average Market value (USD/kg) Status Beloniforrmes Belonidae Xenentodon cancila Kakila, Kaikka TYS, LM 2.07 Clupeiformes Clupeidae Corica soborna Kachki, Gura mach TYS 2.07 Cypriniformes Cobitidae Botia dario Rani, Bou mach VR 4.13 CE Lepidocephalus guntea Puiya, Gutum VR NE EN Somileptus gongota Poia, Puiya VR NE Cyprinidae Amblypharyngodon mola Mola, Moa TYL 3.10 Catla catla Katla, Katol R 1.94 Cirrhinus cirrhosus Mrigal, Mirka TYS 1.69 C. reba Raikhor, Reba R 2.40 VU Devario devario Banspata R 4.14 Labeo bata Bata TYS 2.58 VU L. calbasu Kalbaus R 1.75 VU L. nandina Nandina R 1.45 CE L. rohita Rui, Rohu TYS 2.10 P. sarana Sar punti VR 3.36 CE P. sophore Jat punti TYS 2.06 P. ticto Tit puni TYS 2.06 VU Rasbora rasbora Darkina, Darka SM 2.10 EN Salmophasia bacaila Chela, Katari R, SM 2.25 S. phulo Chela R, SM 2.25 Osteoglossiformes Notopteridae Chitala chitala Chitol VR 3.90 CE Notopterus notopterus Pholi VR 3.90 EN Perciformes Ambassidae Chanda nama Chanda, Lomba chanda TYL 1.55 VU Parambassis ranga Chanda, Ranga chanda R 1.55 VU P. lala Chanda TYS 1.55 Anabantidae Anabas testudineus Koi R 4.13 VU Channidae Channa orientalis Gachua, Cheng VR 1.80 EN C. punctata Taki, Goti TYS 1.60 C. striata Shol R 1.80 EN Gobiidae Glossogobius giuris Bele TYL 2.32 Osphronemidae Trichogaster fasciata Khoilsha TYS 1.55 VU T. lalius Khoilsah, Lal khoilsha SM 1.55 EN Nandidae Nandus nandus Bheda, Meni, Nodoi R, LM 1.70 VU Siluriformes Bagridae Mystus cavasius Gulsha, Kabashi tengra TYS 3.82 EN M. tengara Bajari tengra R, SM 3.82 M. vittatus Tengra TYS, LM 3.82 Sperata aor Ayre VR 4.20 EN 19 World J. Zool., 10 (1): 17-21, 2015 Table 1: Continued S. seenghala Guija, Air R, SM 3.82 EN Clariidae Clarias batrachus Magur R, SM 4.10 Heteropneustidae Heteropneustes fossilis Shing, Shinghi TYS 4.10 Eutropiichthys vacha Bacha, Vacha R, SM 4.20 CE Neotropius atherinoides Kata patasi, Batasi TYS, LM 4.10 Siluridae Ompok pabda Pabda, Modhu pabda VR 4.10 CE Wallago attu Boal R, SM 3.90 Synbranchiformes Mastacembelidae Macrognathus aculeatus Tara baim R 3.10 VU Mastacembelus armatus Baim R 3.10 M. pancalus Guchi, Pankal baim TYS 3.10 Synbranchidae Monoptenus cuchia Cuchia R NE CE Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae Tetraodon cutcutia Potka, Tepa R NE TYS, throughout the year in small amount; TYL, throughout the year in large amount; SM, found in small amount during monsoon; LM, found in large amount during monsoon; R, rare; VR, very rare; NE, Not evaluated; Status in the IUCN Red List according to IUCN Bangladesh [19], EN, endangered; VU, vulnerable; CE, Critically endangered. 20.41% were vulnerable according to IUCN Bangladesh conservation and management laws should be updated on [19]. Additionally, virtually all the species are preferred conventional substructure. Finally, enactment of the by the consumers and have high market value (Table 1).