10 research outputs found
Characterization of the artisanal fishing communities in Nepal and potential implications for the conservation and management of Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica)
The Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) (GRD) is classified as one
of the most endangered of all cetaceans in the world and the second scarcest
freshwater cetacean. The population is estimated to be less than 2,000 individuals.
In Nepal’s Narayani, Sapta Koshi, and Karnali river systems, survival of GRD
continues to be threatened by various anthropogenic activities, such as dam
construction and interactions with artisanal fisheries. A basic description of the
geographic scope, economics, and types of gear used in these fisheries would help
managers understand the fishery-dolphin interaction conflict and assist with
developing potential solutions. The main goal was to provide new information on
the artisanal fishing communities in Nepal. The specific objectives were to identify,
compile, and investigate the demographics, economics, fishing characteristics, and
perception of fishermen about GRD conservation in the Narayani, Sapta Koshi, and
Karnali rivers so conservation managers can develop and implement a potential
solution to the GRD-fishery interaction problem in Nepal. Based on 169 interviews,
79% of Nepalese fishermen indicated fishing was their primary form of income.
Fishermen reported fishing effort was greater in summer than winter; greatest in the
afternoon (14:30 hrs ± 0:27) and during low water level conditions; and gear was set
4.8 ± 0.2 days/week. Fishermen reported using eight different types of monofilament
nets (gillnets and cast nets). Sixty percent used gillnets less than 10 m long, and
nearly 30% preferred gillnets between 10 and 100 m long; a few used gillnets longer
than 100 m. Most fishermen reported they believed education, awareness, and
changing occupations were important for GRD conservation, but they indicated that
alternative occupational options were currently limited in Nepal. Nepalese
fishermen acknowledged that fisheries posed a risk to GRD, but they believed water
pollution, and dam/irrigation developments were the greatest threats.Versión del edito
High Altitude Wetlands of Nepal
Currently there is no precise definition available in the scientific literature for the term high altitude wetlands (HAWs), however Chatterjee et al. (2010) describe HAWs as "areas of swamp, marsh, meadow, fen, peat land, or water located at an altitude above 3,000 m, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish, or saline and are generally located at altitude between continuous natural forest border and the permanent snow." HAWs include different categories of water bodies, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, glaciers, and glacial lakes. They are characterized by a unique diversity of water sources, habitats, species, and communities and generally have not been subjected to rampant human interference compared to other wetland ecosystems. Nepal is blessed with the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, along with another ten of the fourteen highest peaks, all over 8,000 m. These mountains are the source of many glaciers and lakes in the high altitude regions across the country. Most of the high altitude wetlands in South Asia, including Nepal, lie within the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region that extends over 3,500 km and covers approximately 3.5 million sq. km., acting as a fresh water reservoir to the major river basins such as the Ganges, Indus, Yangtze, Mekong, Amu Darya, and Hilmand (Gujja 2005)