Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FISH DIVERSITY OF RIVER RAVI IN INDIAN REGION

Ashwani Kumar and Anish Dua

Abstract

Fish diversity of river Ravi is under constant threat. Ravi is a transboundary river and is the smallest among the five rivers of Indus river system. The main threats to fish diversity of the Ravi are: flow modification, degradation of habitat, availability of water, building of dam and emergence of two canals. In the present study, thirty eight fish species were recorded from the river Ravi. Of these, nine species are vulnerable species and two are endangered species (according to IUCN conservation status). In the present paper an attempt is made to prepare a consolidated list of freshwater fish species, to determine the cause of fish diversity loss and to suggest a various management plans relevant to the conservation of fish diversity of the river Ravi.