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Main textHilsa, Tenualosa ilisha is a highly prestigious fish for esteemed delicious taste, high market demand and price. It forms an important fishery of funnel-shaped 72 km long Narmada Estuary. Rapid decline in hilsa catch has been recorded in the Narmada Estuary over last few decades. Hilsa catch was recorded 5180 ton in 2006–07 that reduced to only 419 ton in 2014–15. Pre-impoundment of dam showed that T. ilisha contributed to the tune of 977.1 to 3727 ton from 1974–75 to 1982–83 and the highest catch of hilsa was 15319 ton during 1993– 94. Sardar Sarovar Dam started functional in the year 1994 which has impacted natural water flow of the river and resulted in a reduction of freshwater availability in the estuary; the development of sand bars at the mouth of the estuary also reduced the tidal ingress into the system; low depth, loss of breeding, nursery and feeding grounds, over fishing may be the most important factors affecting hilsa fishery in Narmada estuary. Catching of juvenile hilsa during winter by ‘Golava’ net (small meshed bag net) also led to a rapid decline in hilsa catch. To maintain the sustainable yield of hilsa, selective fishing and control of juvenile catch are the prerequisites along with maintaining regular flow from the dam.ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpor

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Not AvailableA wide variety of traditional fishing gears are employed throughout the Narmada estuarine region owing to its rich fish biodiversity, but with certain limitations. Documentation of such devices is a need for scientific improvement, and for better socio-economic upliftment of the fishers involved. A total of 12 numbers of traditional fishing techniques was encountered during the study period (2014-15). Catch per unit effort from all of the fishing devices are reportedly declining over the years due to over fishing, habitat destruction, pollution etc. Reduction in fish catching efficiency, income generation through fishing activities gradually decreasing resulting in reduction of active fishermen population. The present paper is an attempt to document all kinds of fishing gears that evolved through indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) used in the Narmada estuary.ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpor

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Not AvailableThe Indian frogfish distributed from East Africa and the Persian Gulf east to India and Sri Lanka is a truly marine species. Frogfish of the family Antennariidae is distinguished by the presence of three well-developed dorsal spines, laterally-directed eyes, largemouth and laterally compressed body. There are no reports of the occurrence of frogfishes in river Narmada. The present study confirms the occurrence of Indian frogfish in the Narmada estuary Gujarat, India, as the first record.ICAR-CIFR

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Main textDuring the period (July 2014–June 2015) of investigation, 85 finfish species belonging to 65 genera, 35 families and 12 orders were encountered from 72 km stretch of Narmada estuarine region. The order Perciformes was found dominant (30 species) followed by Siluriformes (18 species), Cypriniformes (15 species), Clupeiformes (8) etc. Four species such as Tor tor, Wallago attu, Ompok bimaculatus and Ailia coila found under Near Threatened and Cyprinus carpio as a Vulnerable category during the investigation. During 2014–2015, the total fish production from Narmada estuary was 1618 tonnes and it exhibited a decline trend with species like Tenualosa ilisha, Tor tor, Labeo fimbriatus, Rita rita, Rita gogra and Notopterus notopterus being the most affected species. It could be attributed to various factors like the construction of dams, industrial effluents, domestic sewage, over fishing and habitat destruction. It needs suitable interventions for conservation of rich fish diversity of the estuary. Not AvailableICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpor

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Not AvailableThe diversity of finfish in river Narmada and its tributaries in central and western India has been reviewed. We could compile a total of 196 species from both freshwater and brackish water habitats, under 14 orders, 51 families, and 126 genera. The order Cypriniformes represented the highest diversity with 78 species (i.e., 39.8%) followed by Perciformes (47 species), Siluriformes (32 species), Clupeiformes (15 species), etc. As per the IUCN Red List category, the maximum number of species are under Least Concern (129), followed by Not Evaluated (36), Near Threatened (14), Data Deficient (11), Vulnerable (4), and Endangered (2). The species Tor khudree and Tor putitora were found Endangered in the system. Out of 196 finfish species, 77 are food fishes, 33 having both ornamental and food fish value, 21 are truly ornamental value, and 31 as sports fishes. Habitat wise distribution of the fishes indicates that 79 species are truly freshwater and 3 species are truly marine, while 58 species range between freshwater and brackish water habitats, 21 between brackish water and marine habitats and 35 species range from freshwater to marine habitats. This review presents up-to-date information on finfish biodiversity of river Narmada. It will help in making appropriate conservation and management planning of fisheries in this river.Not Availabl