Study finds 8 ‘threatened' fish species from IUCN's red list in Goa's waters
Panaji:
The aim of the study, said Borkar, was to improve the understanding of Goa's freshwater faunal diversity.
'Until now, the understanding was poor with little information on freshwater Ichthyofaunal diversity in Goa, positioned in the central part of the Western Ghats.
Our study also confirms that there is a high mean prey overlap of the native fish groups with invasive alien species (IAS) such as Tilapia and African catfish in freshwater ecosystems of Goa.
It is noteworthy that the now naturalised invasive alien species have extensively modified the composition of many freshwater fish assemblages,' said Sreekanth.
He said the presence of invasive fish species in open water bodies of Goa is alarming, as it can affect native fish populations through dietary overlap and biodiversity loss.
Stock enhancement programmes for native fish populations through captive breeding can be effective in addressing the issue, researcher Trivesh Mayekar said.
'Breeding freshwater fish under captivity is a crucial step for conserving Goa's native species and strengthening native fish biodiversity. By ranching these fingerlings back into rivers and lakes, we can help revive dwindling stocks, protect our rich freshwater heritage, and support the livelihoods of local fishing communities,' he said.
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We are currently developing the breeding and seed production protocol for the indigenous fish species in captivity, he said.
The research also found that in terms of diversity of freshwater fish species, River Mandovi was the richest, followed by Zuari, Terekhol, and Chapora. The researchers said that a comprehensive account of the fish diversity of these fragile riverine ecosystems was necessary for conservation and policy-framing.
'In Goa, though sea fish is staple food for locals, the hinterland population depends on freshwater rivers and lakes for supply of fish, particularly in the rainy season when there is a maritime ban on sea fishing,' Borkar said.
For the survey, fish sampling was carried out in freshwater ecosystems of Goa from 2020 to 2022.
Borkar said that the risk of riverine fish extinctions are linked to anthropogenic stressors as well.
'These anthropogenic activities can negatively impact aquatic biodiversity and proper waste management, and strict riverine conservation policies should be implemented to control the ongoing stressors,' he said.
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