VARIATIONS IN WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH FISH CATCH PER UNIT EFFORT OF BHINI STREAM, A TRIBUTARY OF RIVER RAVI, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIAChakshu Gupta, Seema Langer and Menakshi DharAbstract The quality of water is very critical for fish survival and growth in a water body. However, little is known about the state of the Bhini Streamâs water quality and its relationship to fish catch. The focus of this study was to evaluate water quality parameters in the Bhini Stream and see if there was a correlation between them and fish catch per unit effort. Monthly samples were gathered using a three-level stratified sampling method. Temperature, depth, transparency, pH, TDS, EC, DO, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, and fish catch (CPUE) were all monitored simultaneously in each of the three strata of the stream. The water quality characteristics were within the permissible range for fish production. There were no significant differences in water quality parameter concentrations between the riverine, transitional, and lacustrine zones (p>0.05). TDS and nitrates from fertilisers used on nearby fields and brought to the stream by runoff or floods were significantly and negatively correlated with CPUE (r=0.84, p<0.05; r=0.71, p<0.05). 13 fish species all belonging to order Cypriniformes were reported from the stream with Schistura denisoni being reported for the first time from the River Ravi. |