Status of Aquatic Resources in Someswari River in Northern Bangladesh

Abstract

A total number of 66 species of fishes, including three species of prawn, one species of crabs, one species of snail and four species of reptiles were so far identified from the Someswari River. About 10 types of fishing gear and craft were found in operation. Increasing rate of seine net, Kapuri jal (17.6-23.3%) and gill net, current jal (29.8-34.4%) were identified as detrimental gear resulting in mortality of bi-catch of different species during the last four years. The increasing rate in exploitation of the water bodies is a threat to the aquatic biodiversity of the Someswari River. The natural production of aquatic life in the Someswari River declined dramatically over the last four (2001-2005) years. The total production of Someswari River decreased from 95.79±6.89 to 38.61±2.83 mt over this five-year span and the total production percentage sharply decreased from 19.61% to 59.68% over the same period. As a result, six important commercial aquatic lives mohasher (Tot tor, Tor putitora), nandina (Labeo nandina), olive barb (Puntius sarana) and reptiles (Kachuga kachuga and Morenia petersi) became extinct, 56 species were facing an extremely high risk of extinction and 11 species were in the verge of extinction between 2001 and 2005.