Decline of Freshwater Fish of Pune Urban Area

Abstract

The paper explores the fish fauna of the Pune urban area and discusses the changes in species diversity and population due to various human influences. Previous studies have recorded 110 fish species from the region. The current study covers a 25 km radius from Pune City Post, including several rivers and lakes. A total of 66 species were recorded during the recent survey, bringing the total number of species for the area to 114. However, 18 fish species appear to be locally extinct, and 30 species were not collected during this survey. The study highlights the impact of urbanization, pollution, and the introduction of new fish species on the fish population. Certain large-size fish species have become localized and are facing decline due to habitat degradation and human harvesting. Pollution is also a major factor affecting fish populations in the area. The paper concludes that urgent measures are needed to prevent further decline in fish species by addressing pollution, siltation, and controlling the introduction of exotic species.