Fishing Gears and Their Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems in Barpeta District, Assam | InformativeBD

Fishing gears, catch composition and their effects on aquatic bodies of Barpeta District, Assam, India

Chiranjit Baruah, from the institute of India. Runu Swargiary, from the institute of India. Hangsha Barman, from the institute of India. Himanga Das, from the institute of India . and Khan Mahammad Khalid, from the institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Fishing Gears and Their Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems in Barpeta District, Assam. Entitled, Fishing gears, catch composition and their effects on aquatic bodies of Barpeta District, Assam, India. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences | INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Different types of fishing gears used in some localities of Barpeta district, Assam, India were studied. The various fish species caught by the gears and the effects of the gears on habitats of fishes were also studied. It was found that twenty different fishing gears were used by the fishermen of the study area. Among the active gears, there were 3 types of nets, 3 active traps, 3 impaling gears (spears and spikes) and 2 types of hooks and lines. The passive gears included 3 types of gill nets and 2 types of lift nets; 3 types of bamboo traps and 1 barrier. The fishing gears of the study area excluding the surrounding nets and gill nets do not seem to have any detrimental effects on the habitats of fishes or other aquatic organisms.

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Introduction

Human food and nutrition is greatly dependent on fisheries and aquaculture, which is also the fastest growing food production industry in the world (Elvarasan, 2018). Inland fishery has a great contribution towards individuals, society and environment. It contributes over 40% of the total world’s finfish production, providing food for millions of people worldwide (Lynch et al., 2016).

Fishing gears, catch composition and their effects on aquatic bodies of Barpeta District, Assam, India

It is seen that freshwater habitats of fish are facing adverse effects of erfishing, destruction and pollution (Yin et al., 2022). In addition, use of destructive fishing gears indiscriminate fishing of juvenile and brood fishes during breeding season also pose a threat to fish diversity (Malakar and Boruah, 2017; Sayeed et al. 2014). Fishing gears like small mesh gill nets and seine nets are destructive to brood fishes, juveniles, fries and fingerlings may lead to loss of fish population. Indiscriminate capture of wild fish populations also has harmful effects on fish biodiversity. The dragging effect of fishing nets also destroys the river bed (Laxmappa and Bakshi, 2014; Kokate et al., 2016; Mia et al., 2017). Reduction of DO due to decomposition of crops due to flood, turbidity, erosion, progressive siltation, destruction of breeding, nursery, grazing fields are some of the natural causes of decline of fish population (Mia et al., 2017). Anthropogenic activities like changing land use practices, increasing population, agricultural expansion and pollution are also increasingly affecting river basins and riverine ecosystems (Mohite and Samant, 2013). It was found that abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gears may contribute significantly to the plastic pollution of Rivers (Nelms et al., 2021).

Fishing gears, catch composition and their effects on aquatic bodies of Barpeta District, Assam, India

Various methods are used by people to catch and aggregate fishes (Sharma et al., 2015). There are many fishing gears which are used in Assam (Pravin et al., 2011; Islam et al., 2013; Baruah, 2014; Purkayastha and Gupta, 2014; Sharma et al., 2017; Jabeen and Soren, 2021; Basumatary and Khangembam, 2023; Borah, et al., 2023). The study was conducted in Barpeta district of Assam, India. Barpeta district has many fishery resources including natural and culture ponds, beels (lakes), rivers and also many swamps and marshy areas. The fishery sector plays a major role in the local economy of the region (Rajbongshi et al., 2016).

Fishing gears, catch composition and their effects on aquatic bodies of Barpeta District, Assam, India

Fishermen use different gears and methods depending on species and environmental and ground conditions. The fishing gears also differ in structure, materials used for construction, capture process and methods of operation. Fishing gears may also have some detrimental effects on the habitats of fishes (Boopendranath, 2009). The present study was done to know the various types of fishing gears used by the fishermen, their local names and the composition of catch and the effects of fishing gears on aquatic water bodies of the study area.

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