Fish Biodiversity at Kawadighi Haor of Northeastern Bangladesh: Addressing Fish Diversity, Production and Conservation Status

Abstract

This research was conducted to explore the status of fish species diversity and production in the Kawadighi HaorofnortheasternBangladesh.Datawerecollectedbiweeklythroughdirectcatchassessmentsurveys,focusgroupdiscussions,andpersonalinterviewsusingaquestionnaire.Atotal of 87 fish and prawn species belonging 14 orders and 30 families were identified in the Haor, where 18% species were abundantly available, 20% were commonly available, 42% were moderately availableand20%wererarelyavailable.Amongtherecordedspecies,Cypriniformes,having34species, had the most species, followed by Siluriformes (20), Anabantiformes (11), Ovalentaria (4), Synbranchiformes(4),Clupeiformes(3),Decapoda(3),Osteoglossiformes(2),Anguilliformes(1),Beloniformes (1), Cyprinodontiformes (1), Gobiiformes (1), Mugiliformes (1), and Tetraodontiformes (1). The values of Shannon-Weaver diversity (H), Margalef’s richness (d), and Pielou’s evenness (J) indices were 2.98, 7.72 and 0.67 in Hawagulaia, 2.97, 7.52 and 0.67 in Patasingra and 2.61, 7.30 and 0.59inSalkatuabeel,respectively.Thehaor'saverageyearlyfishproductionwas704.09kg/ha.Small indigenous species (SIS) of fish dominated the haor's total production, accounting for 51.8 to 70.57 percent of the total contribution. The highest portion of fish produced in the non-stocked beel was SIS of fish but per hectare SIS of fish production of non-stocked beel was lower than the fingerling stocked beels. Aquaculture might have a good effect on fish production and biodiversity. ThefindingsshowedthatKawadighiHaorisaveryproductiveandbiodiversity-richinlandopenwaterbody that may function as a mother fishery. For the protection of current fisheries resources, multiple approaches including public awareness campaigns might be beneficial.

Keywords

• kawadighi haor
• species diversity
• diversity indices
• aquaculture
• conservation