Fish biodiversity in the Khiru River of Bangladesh: Present status and threats

This study was conducted from December 2016 to November 2017 to assess the status of fish diversity in the Khiru River of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected through questionnaire interviews of 80 fishermen, 8 focus group discussions, and 5 key informant interviews. A total of 64 fish and prawn species under 22 families and 11 orders were recorded. Cyprinidae (31.25%) was the most diversified family. On the basis of their availability the recorded species were categorized into four groups: available (35.94%), less available (29.69%), rare (20.31%), and very rare (14.06%). A total of 10 fishing gears under 5 major categories viz., fish nets, fish traps, wounding gears, hooks and lines, and fish aggregating device were recorded. Overfishing, siltation, use of banned fishing gears, irrespective catching of juvenile and brood fishes, katha fishing, etc. were detected as major threats to the fish diversity and habitat degradation of the fishes in this river. Therefore, dredging, use of legally applicable fishing gears, establishment and management of fish sanctuary, community based fisheries management, stocking of economically and nutritionally important indigenous fish species, implementation of fish acts and laws, and increasing fishers’ awareness should be undertaken to conserve the fish diversity in this river