RIVERINE FISHERIES of India

1. Riverine
Fisheries
Submitted by:
Prerna Chaudhary
Roll No. – 2231044
M. Sc. IV Sem
Submitted To:
Prof Dr. Mohit Arya

2. Introduction
- Definition of riverine fisheries: Riverine
fisheries refer to the fishing activities
conducted in rivers, including the
harvesting of fish and other aquatic
organisms for food, income, and livelihood.
- Importance of riverine fisheries in India:
Riverine fisheries play a crucial role in
providing -
- food security,
- employment,
- and income to millions of people in India.
They also contribute to the country's cultural
heritage and biodiversity conservation.

3. Overview of Rivers in India
- Major rivers in India: The prominent
rivers such as the
- Ganges,
- Brahmaputra,
- Yamuna,
- Godavari,
- Krishna, and others.
- Significance of rivers in terms of
fisheries: Diverse aquatic ecosystems
present in these rivers, providing
suitable habitats for a wide range of fish
species.

4. The Ganga River System
It is the largest river system in India. It is the
perennial river originating from the Gangotri near
Himalayas, enters the plains at Haridwar passes
through the states of UP, Bihar & West Bengal &
ultimately joins the Bay of Bengal.
The principal tributories are rivers:
• Ramganga,
• Gomati,
• Ghagra,
• Gandak,
• Kosi,
• Yamuna & Sons.
Length: 8047 km• Catchment area: 9.71 lakh sq. Km

5. The Chambal River
• The Chambal River is a major river in central India.
It flows primarily through the states of Madhya
Pradesh and Rajasthan, and forms a part of the
greater Yamuna-Ganga river system.
• Length: The Chambal River has a total length of
approximately 960 kilometers (600 miles).
• Tributaries: Some of the important tributaries of the
Chambal River include the Banas, Parvati, and Kali
Sindh rivers.
• The region is particularly famous for its population
of Gharial (a species of crocodile) and Gangetic
Dolphins.

6. Fisheries Opportunities In
Chambal River
• Commercial Fishing: The Chambal River is home to
numerous commercially valuable fish species such as
catfish, mahseer, rohu, and mrigal.
• Aquaculture: Constructing fish ponds or cages along the
river can allow for the controlled breeding and rearing of
various fish species.
• Angling and Sport Fishing: The Chambal River is renowned
for being a popular angling destination. Anglers from around
the world visit the river for recreational fishing, especially to
catch the legendary mahseer, a prized sport fish.
• Fish Processing and Value Addition: Setting up fish
processing units near the Chambal River can add value to
the fisheries sector. Fish can be processed into various forms
such as fillets, canned products, fish meal, fish oil, or fish-
based snacks. This can create employment opportunities
and enhance the marketability of the fish products.

7. Phytoplankton:
• Amphora, Navicula,
Cymbella,
• Chlorella, Closterium,
Denticula,
• Spirogyra, Anabaena, Nostoc,
• Oscilatoria etc.
Zooplankton:
• Rotaria, Keratella,
• Monostyla, Polyarthra etc.
Fisheries:
• major carps, minor carps,
• catfishes, cluipeids, murrels,
• featherbacks, freshwater eel
and prawns.

8. • This river system originates from glacier
mass near Mansarowar Lake, crosses through
Tibet, Arunachal, Assam & Bangladesh joins
the Ganga at Goalundo & ultimately joins the
Bay of Bengal through Meghna estuary.
• Tributaries:
- (North)
Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi,
Borgong, Dhansiri, Puthimari, Manas, Beki,
Aie,
-(South)
Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri, Kopilli,
Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran
Length: 2900 km
Catchment area: 2 lakh sq. Km.
The Brahmaputra River System

9. • Phytoplankton:
-Spirogyra, Ulothrix,
-Gomphonema, Navicula,
-Oscillatoria,Zygnema, etc.
• Zooplankton:
-Brachionus, Cyclops,
-Bosmina, Daphnia,
-Nauplius etc.
• Fisheries:
-Wallago attu, Labeo rohita,
-Minor carps, Hilsa, Tortor,
-Labeo gonius, Mystus menoda,
-M. bleekeri, Rita rita, Channa spp.,
-Heteropneustus, fossilis,
-Noyopterus spp., Catla catla,
-Cirrhinus mrigala, C. reba etc.

10. • The Indus rises about 100 km North of
Mansarowar & flows NorthWest through Tibet
before entering Kashmir. After flowing about 800
km it turns south through Ladakh range. It enters
Pakistan through Kashmir.
• It has five tributaries in its left bank, namely:
-Jhelum,
-Chenab,
-Ravi,
-Beas &
-Sutlej and ultimately joins the Arabian Sea.
• The fishes found here are of mixed varieties. such
as major carps (Catla, Rohu, and thishes)
The Indus River System

11. It constitutes of four major rivers :
• Mahanadi- 900 km, 139681.51 Sq. Km (catchment
area).
 Major Fishes -
• Godavari -1465 km (length),315,980 sq. Km
(catchment area),
• Krishna- 1401km (length), 233,229 sqKm (catchment
area) &
• Kaveri- 800 km (length), 4,70000 sq. Km (catchment
area).
• The East Coast rivers ultimately joins the Bay of
Bengal.
The East Coast River System

12. The major fishes of the river include
• carps (Labeo fimbriatus, Cirrhinus
mrigala, Labeo calbasu, Catla catla ),
• catfishes (Mystus seenghala, Mystus aor,
Silonia childreni, Wallago attu, Pangasius
pangasius, Bagarius bagarius) and
• Hilsa ilisha.
Major Fishes of The East
Coast River System

13. The Peninsular River System
• The Western Coast river system is also knownas
Peninsular river system.
• It has two imp.Rivers, namely: Narmada & Tapi.
• The Narmada originates in the Amarkantak Hills,
M.P & terminates in the Gulf of Cambay after
crossing Gujarat state. The catchment areais
about 94,235 sq.km.
• The Tapi river has its origin in Mount Vindhya
crosses through M.P, Maharashtra & Gujarat &
ultimately joins the Arabian Sea. The catchment
area is about 48,000 sq.km.

14. The fisheries of the river Narmada & Tapti
consists of the following species.
•Carps: Tor tor, Labeo fimbriatus, L.
calbasu, L. bata, Labeo kontius, Cirrhinus
mrigala, C. reba, Catla catla, Puntius
sarana.
•Catfishes: Mystus seengala, M. aor, M.
cavasius, Wallago attu, Rita pavimentata,
Ompok bimaculatus
•Miscellaneous : Notopterus
notopterus, Channa spp., Mastecembelus spp
, minnows.
Major Fishes of The Peninsular
River System

15. - Overfishing: The demand for fish exceeds the sustainable
yield of the rivers, leading to a decline in fish stocks.
- Habitat degradation: Habitat degradation due to
deforestation, pollution, dam construction, and sand
mining, which can negatively affect fish populations.
- Pollution: Water pollution from industrial effluents,
agricultural runoff, and domestic waste, leading to
reduced water quality and adverse effects on fish health.
- Climate change: Climate change, including rising
temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and changing river
flows, can impact fish habitats and their distribution.
Challenges in Riverine
Fisheries

16. • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):
• The Government of India established this body to
encourage a coordinated effort by the listed states to
tackle the contamination of the Ganga River by
offering financial and technological assistance.
Conservation and Management
Conservation initiatives:
• PRADHAN MANTRI MATSYA SAMPADA
YOJANA (PMMSY): A scheme to bring about
ecologically healthy, economically viable, and socially
inclusive development of the Fisheries sector of India.

17. The Role Of NGOs In Sustainable Fisheries
Some of the NGOs are:
• The Science Association of Bengal (SAB)
• Subha Rashmi Mahila Seva Samiti (SRMSS)
• South Indian Fisherman Federation Society (SIFFS)
• Manav Vikas Sevabhavi (MVS)
• Brackish Water Research Centre (BWRC)

18. - Role in food security: Riverine fisheries contribute to
food security by providing a source of affordable
protein-rich food to the population, especially in rural
areas.
- - Nutritional benefits: The nutritional value of riverine
fish species, which are rich in essential nutrients like
omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Riverine Fisheries and Food
Security

19. - Link to biodiversity conservation: Healthy riverine
fisheries are essential for maintaining overall
ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation.
- Impact on fish populations: Significance of
maintaining sustainable fish populations to preserve
the ecological balance of rivers and prevent the decline
of endangered species.
Riverine Fisheries and
Biodiversity

20. - Importance of partnerships: The significance of
collaborations between government agencies, research
institutions, NGOs, and local communities for effective
riverine fisheries management.
- Examples of partnerships: Partnerships, such as
collaborations between the Central and State Fisheries
Departments, research institutions like the Central Inland
Fisheries Research Institute, and NGOs working on fisheries
conservation.
Partnerships and Collaboration

21. - Potential for sustainable
development: Development and growth
in riverine fisheries, including the
adoption of eco-friendly practices,
value addition through processing and
marketing, and eco-tourism
opportunities.
- Need for integrated approaches that
balance conservation with
socioeconomic development.
Future Outlook and Opportunities

22. Conclusion
This project aims to assess the status of riverine fisheries, which are an important source
of Food income and livelihoods for millions of peoples worldwide.
The study covers of comprehensive review of the literature on riverine fisheries and
analysis of the current status and performance of riverine fisheries.
Modern rivers in India have been studied in different geographical and geological
settings. Human imprints are being manifested significantly in the process. and
morphology of all we down stress. Such studies require multiple datasets. Such as
hydrological and morphological data, Remote sensing based spatial datasets,
geochemical data climate models and their projections

23. References
• Google.com
• https://www.netfishmpeda.org
• https://fundamatics.net/article/saving-indias-rivers-and-
riverine-ecosystems/
• https://pib.gov.in/FeaturesDeatils.aspx?NoteId=151155&Mo
duleId%20=%202
• https://ilearncana.com/details/Regulation-of-NGOs-in-
India/2779
• HR. Singh & S.S. Khanna: Textbook of Fish Biology &
Fisheries,
• Narendra Publishing House Delhi V.G. Jhingram: Fish and
Fisheries of India,
• Pandey &Shukla, Fish and Fisheries,Rastogi Publication,
Meerut

24. Thank You