Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

FISH SPECIES COMPOSITION, NUMBER AND ABUNDANCE IN DIFFERENT RIVERS AND SEASONS IN NEPAL AND REEVALUATION OF THEIR THREAT CATEGORY FOR EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Jha Bibhuti Ranjan, Waidbacher Herwig, Sharma Subodh and Strait Michael

Abstract

Seasonal changes in the species composition, number and abundance of fish species in nine rivers in Nepal were studied in this work. Fish sampling was done using electrofishing gear by standard wading method in all four major seasons. There is much qualitative information regarding the fish species in the country but the quantitative information of fishes in Nepal is clearly wanting. The main aim of this work is to give the quantitative account of all the fishes present in these rivers in all the seasons and to reevaluate their present status, Altogether 27588 fishes of 47 species were recorded during this work with average abundance of 79.23 (CPUE). As high as 36 fish species among 47, which were recorded during this work, were found to have different threat categories than the existing ones and thus it is proposed to change their status or at least it is called for more vigorous studies.