Published Paper Details:

Bhagirathi River is one of the largest tributaries of river Ganga in India and sustains a rich fish biodiversity as cold water fishery resources. The present study aimed to study the current status of fish species and population abundance of selected fish species in the Bhagirathi River at Uttarakhand. During the present study, a total of 19 fish species belonging to 4 families were reported. Schizothorax and Tor fish species (Cyprinidae family) were the dominant species (>50 % of the total fish catch) in the riverine segments of the river Bhagirathi, while Cyprinus carpio (common carp) is the dominant species in the impoundment segment of Tehri reservoir. Few other fish species of Barilius, Garra, and Glyptothorax etc. also have been recorded during the study. The comparison of the present result with earlier reports delighted that endemic fish fauna have to be diminished with the progression of time in the Bhagirathi river system, which may because of debasement and fractures of riverine natural habitats caused by various natural and anthropogenic activities. The environmental change in the natural water flow pattern of rivers and hydrological characteristics, including indiscriminate fishing practices and other natural calamities is the main factors for decline the fishery resources in Bhagirathi River.