Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STRATEGY OF MAHSEER FISH (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINIDAE) CONSERVATION: A CASE STUDY IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

Boni Amin Laskar, Jawan Singh Rawat, Mrinal Dasgupta, Shyama Prasad Biswas, Debojit Sarma and D.N. Das

Abstract

There is lack of protection measures and scientific management activities for fishes in the Protected Areas of North-East India. Owing to increased anthropogenic and climatic distress, the Mahseer fishes are declining at an alarming rate in their native distribution areas. This communication focuses a conservation application through introduction of two very important species of the valued Indian Mahseer in an upland lake Mehao. The study highlights the scope and potential of such undisturbed and vast water bodies for long-run conservation of threatened/endangered fishes particularly the indigenous Mahseer, through rehabilitation. The results of the study provoke the recognition of the lake as ‘Mahseer reserve’ in order to pay management attention in the lake.