Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India

Structural time series analysis and forecasting fish and tiger shrimp seed collection from two tidal estuaries in Sundarbans

K. K. Goswami, U. Bhaumik, M. K. Mukhopadhyay, N. P. Shrivastava and A. P. Sharma

Tidal estuaries in and around the Sundarbans in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal are natural sources of fin and shell fish seeds. In this context, Structural Time Series Models (STSM) were developed to forecast daily fish seed collection from data generated under intensive study conducted in two tidal estuarine rivers of Sunderbans during the period 1994 to 1998. The trend plus cyclical models were used to estimate lunar effect, trend and seasonality from daily collection data and also for forecasting future values (R2 value are 0.82 and 0.87) of fish seed and Tiger shrimp seed collection (R2 value from 0.66 and 0.89). All the components of the models were found to be significant and both cycles were stationary and represented seasonality or lunar effect.

(Page No:-01-08)

Assessment of Fishery and ecological integrity of the anthropogenically stressed River Churni, India

. M. K. Das, S. Samanta, K. Mitra, M. K. Bandyopadhyay and S. Bhowmick

The river Churni a major source of surface water provides food and income security to nearly 0.3 million riparian people. Anthropogenic activities over the years have resulted in frequent fish mortality and decline in fish population. The frequent discharge of sugar mill effluents in the river alter the dissolved oxygen to critical levels of 0.8 mg l-1. 54 fish species belonging to 24 families and 41 genera were recorded during the study. The relative abundance of Cyprinids was maximum (0.7-16%) followed by Bagrids (1.5-3.6%). The dominant species across the sites were Puntius conchonius, Glossogobius giuris, Salmophasia bacaila and Amblypharyngodon mola. Carnivorous species (54%) were dominant in all sites followed by omnivores (26%) and herbivores (20%). The local fish assemblages were structured by environmental influences at multiple scales. The most important parameters determining variability of fish assemblages are DO, pH, CO2, NH3-N and hardness. Evaluation of fish health of L. rohita reared in cages in situ at the stressed site and at the non-stressed site of the river indicated significant alteration in blood chemistry and cellular structure of the fishes in the stressed site compared to the control. The Index of Biotic Integrity revealed that 40 % of the sampled sites supported fish assemblages in acceptable condition. Appropriate management strategy has been suggested to restore the ecological integrity of the river..

(Page No: 09-28)

FROTIFERS, THEIR DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE AND SEASONAL VARIATION IN CHILIKA LAGOON

M. MUKHERJEE, S. K. BANIK, V. R. SURESH, R. K. MANNA, D. PANDA AND A. P. SHARMA

The distribution, diversity, abundance of rotifers and influence of environmental variables on them in Chilika lagoon have been studied. Twenty three species of rotifers, unreported earlier from Chilika, have been identified. Members of the family Brachionidae were most abundant in the lagoon. Northern sector of the lagoon was most diverse and southern sector was the least. Bray-Curtis similarity and PCA showed distinct seasonal difference in distribution and abundance. Salinity, transparency, silicate and total hardness were the most critical environmental parameters influencing rotifers in the lagoon

(Page No:29-37-)

FISH DIVERSITY OF SARNI RESERVOIR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THREATS AND CONSERVATION MEASURES

.A. BHOWMIK RAY, A. P. SHARMA, B. C. PATRA1 AND S. ROY CHOUDHURY

Documented and updated the fish diversity of Sarni, a medium sized reservoir in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. The study revealed occurrence of 39 fish species classified under 25 genera and 10 families; Catla catla was the most abundant species among Indian major carps. Sarni reservoir supported reasonably good fish diversity, but adequate conservation measures are required in face of the increased man-induced activities. Issues related to various threats to aquatic environment and conservation strategies in the reservoir have been discussed.

(Page No:38-47)

Influence of temperature, pH, and oxic state on Ca-P dynamics in floodplain wetland sediment: a microcosm study

S. K. MANNA, S. SAMANTA, C. BANDOPADHYAY, K. SARKAR,1 A. P. SHARMA AND
N. MAITRA

Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient determining the trophic state in freshwater ecosystems. Besides Fe-P interaction, organic matter decomposition is important in sediment P chemistry or release. Although Ca-P often forms the major inorganic P pool in sediment, role of Ca-P in P cycling/ release is not well studied. The present work conducted in laboratory microcosm using freshly collected floodplain wetland sediment showed that lower pH and moderate to high temperature slowly and significantly influence the Ca-P release; redox condition has less defined role. Besides Ca-P dissolution and P release by microbiota, including phosphate solubilizing bacteria, temperature also dictates microbial P requirement and uptake, ultimately determining the available P level in sediment. In winter chemical interactions might majorly regulate the sedimentary P cycle, however, microbial activities play an important role in P mobilization during summer.

(Page No:48-53)

Livelihood enhancement of fishermen community : A case study in Gandhisagar reservoir, Madhya Pradesh

U. K. Subuddhi, R. K. Choudhary, A. K. Das1 and Satish Balapure

Socio-economic conditions and livelihood status of the fishing community of Gandhisagar reservoir in Mandsaur district was studied to assess the impact of the beneficial schemes run by Fisheries Federation of Madhya Pradesh. Data were collected from randomly selected 50 fishermen through participatory rural appraisal and personal interview using a well structured questionnaire. The preliminary results were validated through Focus Group Discussions. The result showed that the schemes have positive impact on the fisherfolk as the migration of the fishermen to any other occupation got decreased. They are now quite sufficient to acquire the materials, which are needed for fishing activity, on day to day basis.(Page No:32-35)

(Page No:54-61)

MANAGEMENT REGIME AND ITS IMPACT ON THE WETLAND FISHERIES IN ASSAM

GANESH CHANDRA

The floodplain wetlands (beels) in Assam extending over one lakh hectare, constitute the most important fishery resource of the state. These wetlands are the common property resource and under various management regimes, i.e., private management (individuals and groups), fishermen cooperative management, Community-based fisheries management (decentralized management, Government works as facilitator) and open access. Most of the unregistered beels are under open access. An impact study was undertaken in two wetlands of Assam under private and cooperative management regimes with the objectives of to assess the impact of management regimes on the productivity of the beel; to assess the economics of beel fisheries management; and to assess the impact on the livelihood of the fisher community of wetlands. An impact pathway was formulated for the impact analysis of management regimes on the productivity of the selected wetlands. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and focused group discussion with the lessee for privately managed beels and with secretaries for beels managed by Cooperatives. The productivity of Rawmari beel was 850 kg ha-1 yr-1 in comparison to 410 kg ha-1 yr-1 in Charan beel. The benefit accrued from private managed beels was better than the cooperative managed beels. This communication discusses in detail the positive and negative outcome of management regimes on the beel fisheries management. This communication also discusses about the sharing arrangement and benefit to community in the private and community managed wetlands.

(Page No:62-68)

SEDIMENT FERTILITY based management of Aquaculture in URBAN AND RURAL PONDS OF CHHATTISGARH

K. Roy

A survey was conducted to determine the nutrient and fertility status of pond bottom soil in a few perennial urban ponds and some perennial rural ponds of Raipur, Chhattisgarh to assess their fisheries production potential.Results revealed that the ponds of the region are characterized by moderate soil available-N content, low soil available-P content, high soil exchangeable K content, moderate level of organic carbon and near neutral to mildly alkaline pH. There is a significant imbalance in soil N:C and N:P ratios. The ponds in this region are moderately productive and there exists ample scope to enhance the current level of production through adoption of soil based management packages. Urban ponds need lime (as CaCO3) @700-800 kg/ha/yr., Nitrogen (as N) @200 kg/ha/yr., Phosphorus (as P2O5) @100 kg/ha/yr. and Organic C (as cow dung) @8000-10000 kg/ha/yr. Rural ponds require lime (as CaCO3) @500 kg/ha/yr., Nitrogen (as N) @150 kg/ha/yr., Phosphorus (as P2O5) @125 kg/ha/yr. and Organic C (as cow dung) @8000-10000 kg/ha/yr. These soil amendments are necessary in order to make the ponds optimally suitable for semi intensive fish culture practices. Rural ponds are better in sediment nutrient status than urban counterparts.

(Page No:69-75)

FLUCTUATIONS OF PLANKTON POPULATION IN OX-BOW LAKE IN NADIA DISTRICT (WEST BENGAL)

S. Das, S. K. Sau, M. Dasgupta1 and R. K. Trivedi2

A study was carrierd out to assess the diversity, abundance and fluctuations of plankton in an ox-bow lake in West Bengal. Total 21 genera of phytoplankton belonging to Chlorophyceae, Myxophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae and 21 genera of zooplankton of Copepoda, Cladocera, Rotifera, Ostracoda and Rhizopoda were identified from the lake . Total plankton varied from 20 to 505 nos. l-1 and showed two peaks, one in April and the other in February. Chlorophyceae and Myxophyceae were dominant among phytoplankton and Copepoda was abundant among zooplankton..

(Page No:75-83)

SHORT COMMUNICATION

LImpact of habitat shifting on fishery of Hilsa in Tapti estuary

A. P. Sharma, U. Bhaumik, M. K. Mukhopadhyay, N. P. Shrivastava and C. M. Roshith

(Page No:84-86)

Juvenile Fishery of Gonialosa manmina in Hirakud; Reservoir, India: Relevance of seasonal subsistence fishery in the riparian livelihoods

SAJINA, A. M., D. SUDHEESAN, S. SAMANTA, S. K. PAUL, S. BHOWMICK AND S. K. NAG

(Page No:87-91)

MASSIVE INVASION OF RESILIENT EXOTIC FISHES IN THE RIVER GANGA: A CASE STUDY AT ALLAHABAD STRETCH

K. D. Joshi, D. N. Jha, M. A. Alam, S. C. S. Das, S. K. Srivastava and Vijay Kumar

(Page No:92-95)