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Fish Biodiversity and Conservation Status of the Dhepa River Sanctuary in Protection and Restoration of Threatened Fishes of Northwest Bangladesh

Imran Parvez
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University,Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Hrisikesh Sarker Sujan
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Md. Ashraful Alam
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Mst. Nahid Akter
Department of Aquaculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Kalipada Roy
Department of Fisheries, Birganj, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Md. Rezoanul Haque
Department of Fisheries Management, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A fish sanctuary has established at the Dhepa river basin in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh to protect the threatened fishes. The present fish biodiversity status and the impacts of the sanctuary on the protection and restoration of fishes were mapped from January to December 2015 through an extensive survey and fish sample collection. A total of 55 freshwater fishes including 48 indigenous species and 7 exotic species were identified from the Dhepa river fish sanctuary. The fishes belong to 43 genera, 8 orders and 18 families. Cypriniformes was the most dominant order (51%), followed by siluriformes (19%), perciformes (19%), osteoglossiformes (3%), beloniformes, clupeiformes, cynbranchiformes, and tetraodontiformes (2%). Among 18 families, cyprinidae was the most dominant with 40% of the total fishes. According to the updated red list, 48 indigenous fishes were grouped into 6 endangered (EN), 5 vulnerable (VU), 9 near threatened (NT) and 24 least concerned (LC) categories. A cluster diagram using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) algorithm was constructed that depicted the direct correlation of LC, VU, CR, EN and NT categories while the not threatened (NO) and data deficient (DD) were not related to the other categories. It may be assumed that fishes under LC go towards the endangered category. The questionnaire survey categorized the collected fishes into abundantly available (22), moderately available (23) and rarely available (03). The conservation of fishes found in the category of least concerned, moderately available and rarely available is extremely desired for the protection and restoration of the threatened fishes of northwest Bangladesh.

Keywords: Dhepa river, Fish sanctuary, Biodiversity, Threatened fishes

Location: Dhepa river basin in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

The study was aimed to assess the fish biodiversity and conservation status of the Dhepa river sanctuary as well as the impact of the sanctuary in protection and restoration fish biodiversity.

Methodology:

Study site and period: The Dhepa river fish sanctuary selected as the study site is located "between 25°48' and 26°04' north latitudes and 88°29' and 88°44' east longitudes. Because of the presence of a sluice gate at this point of the river, the upper and lower basin of the river around the area contains sufficient water throughout the year. This sluice gate managed water is very suitable as a fish sanctuary due to the availability of running water throughout the year and the migration tendency of fishes towards the upward basin. Since December 2014, the local administration has declared this area a fish sanctuary and has banned fishing from this zone. This study was conducted for a period of 24 months from January 2014 to December, 2015 including baseline survey. Fish sample collection and identification: fish samples were collected throughout the study period from the Dhepa river fish sanctuary using different types of nets including cast net and dip net. The total water body was divided into three sampling zones covering all representative habitats of the sanctuary. Immediately after collection, the ice-preserved fishes were transported to the Fisheries Biology and Genetics Laboratory of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur. For the long term preservation 5% formalin solution was used. Systematic identification of the fishes was done with the help of standard keys provided by Talwar and Jhingran (1991) and Rahman (2005). Survey data collection and cross-check To supplement the sampling data, information of fishermen’s catch residing adjacent to the fish sanctuary through a questionnaire survey were collected. During the collection of data, both primary and secondary sources were considered to know the present biodiversity status of the river and the impact of sanctuary in the protection and restoration of the threatened fish’s biodiversity. Besides fishermen, Upazila Fisheries Officer (UFO), Upazila Parisad Chairman, leaders of the fisher’s community, fish traders and community people were also included in the form of focus group discussion (FGD). Secondary information regarding the availability of fishes in the Dhepa river was collected from the office of the Department of Fisheries, Government of Bangladesh, Birganj Upazila, academicians, books, journals and theses. After collecting the data, it was cross-checked through key informant interviews with the government officials, academicians, local leaders and NGO workers in the study area. Conservation status of the fishes References to the conservation status of the fishes, the red list categorization (IUCN Bangladesh, 2000) and updated species red list of IUCN Bangladesh in 2016 (www.iucnredlistbd.org) was used. The availability of the different fishes was checked with the fishermen involved in the harvesting of fishes from the adjacent area of the fish sanctuary. The fishes were grouped into 3 categories based on the fisher’s information; the “abundantly available” fishes were categorized as “available”, the “moderately available” fishes were categorized as “moderate” and the “rarely available” were categorized as “rare”.Data analysis: The collected data were sorted out and analyzed by using Microsoft office excels 2007. Tables, pie-charts, diagrams, etc. were used to interpret the results. A cluster diagram using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) algorithm using PAST software (3.14) was constructed based on the IUCN conservation status of the collected fishes for the year 2000 and 2016.

Source of Information: J. Bio. & Env. Sci.2017, ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online)Vol. 10, No. 1, p. 183-190, 2017

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The establishment of sanctuary showed a positive impact on the availability of a good number of indigenous fishes that are in IUCN red list categories. Fishes that are in IUCN red list categories are still abundantly available or moderately available. The proper management of this sanctuary could serve as a gene pool of the threatened fishes of this part of the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal