diversity, distribution, threats and conservation action of fish fauna in chinnar reservoir, tamil...
DESCRIPTION
The freshwater fish fauna of the Chinnar reservoir/Chinnar River a tributary of the Cauvery River system in the Tamil Nadu at the Eastern part of Ghats was studied. A total of thirty two (32) species of freshwater fish belonging to seven (7) orders, ten (10) families and twenty four (24) genera were recorded. Out of the 32 species, the present study recorded the presence of three (3) threatened, one (1) vulnerable and twenty eight (28) least concerned species. The highest species diversity was recorded in Chinnar Reservoir (n=22) and lowest diversity was found in the Gujjarahalli (n=9). The fish fauna of the Chinnar reservoir is threatened due to anthropogenic activities such as deforestation leading to siltation, sand mining, over fishing by using dynamite, organic and inorganic pollution. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop and implement conservation plans that are needed.Article Citation:Manickam Raja, Rajendiran Ramkumar and Pachiappan Perumal.Diversity, distribution, threats and conservation action of fish fauna in Chinnar Reservoir, Tamil Nadu.Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327.Full Text:http://jresearchbiology.com/documents/RA0432.pdfTRANSCRIPT
Article Citation: Manickam Raja, Rajendiran Ramkumar and Pachiappan Perumal. Diversity, distribution, threats and conservation action of fish fauna in Chinnar Reservoir, Tamil Nadu. Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327
Jou
rn
al of R
esearch
in
Biology
Diversity, distribution, threats and conservation action of fish fauna in
Chinnar Reservoir, Tamil Nadu
Keywords: Chinnar reservoir, Eastern Ghats, biodiversity status, sand mining, threats.
ABSTRACT: The freshwater fish fauna of the Chinnar reservoir/Chinnar River a tributary of the Cauvery River system in the Tamil Nadu at the Eastern part of Ghats was studied. A total of thirty two (32) species of freshwater fish belonging to seven (7) orders, ten (10) families and twenty four (24) genera were recorded. Out of the 32 species, the present study recorded the presence of three (3) threatened, one (1) vulnerable and twenty eight (28) least concerned species. The highest species diversity was recorded in Chinnar Reservoir (n=22) and lowest diversity was found in the Gujjarahalli (n=9). The fish fauna of the Chinnar reservoir is threatened due to anthropogenic activities such as deforestation leading to siltation, sand mining, over fishing by using dynamite, organic and inorganic pollution. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop and implement conservation plans that are needed.
1317-1327 | JRB | 2014 | Vol 4 | No 3
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www.jresearchbiology.com Journal of Research in Biology
An International
Scientific Research Journal
Authors:
Manickam Raja,
Rajendiran Ramkumar
and Pachiappan Perumal.
Institution:
1. Department of
Biotechnology, Periyar
University, Periyar Palkalai
Nagar, Salem- 636 011
Tamil Nadu, India.
Corresponding author:
Manickam Raja.
Email Id:
Web Address: http://jresearchbiology.com/
documents/RA0432.pdf.
Dates: Received: 11 Mar 2014 Accepted: 22 Mar 2014 Published: 06 Jun 2014
Journal of Research in Biology
An International Scientific Research Journal
Original Research
ISSN No: Print: 2231 –6280; Online: 2231- 6299
INTRODUCTION
The ichthyofauna of Eastern Ghats have not been
thoroughly studied as that of the Western Ghats. Rema
Devi and Indra (2003) have listed 127 fish species from
Eastern Ghats based on their extensive collections and
the earlier reports beginning with Day (1878). The
Eastern Ghats are a series of broken and weathered relict
embodies as a series of isolated hills in the peninsular
plateau (Mani 1974). Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri parts
of the Eastern Ghats are the discontinuous patches of
hills with fragmented dry deciduous forest types by
which small streams originate. The region is mostly
covered with agricultural lands (66.5%), the dry
deciduous and dry deciduous scrub forests constitute
about 6.8%. Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests forms
about 0.3% (NRSA, 2007).
The reservoirs and lakes were the main assets
exploited due to inland fisheries. The understanding of
fish faunal diversity is a foremost feature for the
exploitation of freshwater reservoirs (Battul et al., 2007).
The detailed information of fishery resources, their
availability and distribution in a particular water body is
essential for proper consumption of its fishery resource
(Pawar et al., 2007). The spatial and temporal patterns of
diversity, distribution and species composition will be
useful to study the factors influencing the fish
community structure (Galacatos et al., 2004). Many fish
species have become highly endangered by human
engrossment in the riverine ecosystems as a result of
habitat loss (Lima-Junior et al., 2006; Mas-Marti et al.,
2010). Freshwater fishes are one of the most threatened
taxonomic groups (Darwall and Vie, 2005) because of
their high sensitivity to the alteration of aquatic habits
(Laffaille et al., 2005; Sarkar et al., 2008; Kang et al.,
2009).
Ichthyofauna diversity on different river systems
of India have been surveyed by Jayaram et al., (1982),
Talwar and Jhingran (1991), Menon (1992) and
contemporary works include those of Rema Devi (1992),
Rema Devi et al., (1999), Easa and Shaji (1997), Rema
Devi and Raghu Nathan (1999), Arunachalam and
Sankaranarayanan (1999), Rema Devi and Indra (2000),
Arunachalam and Muralidharan (2007, 2008 and 2009),
Arunachalam et al., (2006, 2013, and 2014), Raja et al.,
(2014). So far, very little scientific studies have been
carried out on the reservoirs of Tamil Nadu.
The Chinnar River takes its origin from a
wetland system called Thali Lake or Thali Big Tank.
Sanathkumar River, the name at its origin from Thali
Lake and the adjoining streams waters from fragmented
hilly terrain were regulated with several Anicut/check
dams, confluences with Chinnar River and regulated as
Chinnar Reservoir. The Chinnar Reservoir (Panjapalli
Dam) is located (12°29'29"N 77°55'26"E) in Panjapalli-
village of Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu. The
reservoir formed by the dam is a lake of 420 acres
impounding 500 mile cubic feet of water at its maximum
level. The reservoir comprises of an earthen dam of 365
m length across river Chinnar. The irrigation network
consists of one main canal, two distributaries and twelve
direct sluices. The reservoir provides irrigation for
1600.63 ha of land under the old and new commands in
Palacode and Karimangalam Taluks of Dharmapuri
District apart from services by means of groundwater
recharge, nutrient supply, water purification, recreation
and habitats for various biota. The Chinnar river
confluences with Cauvery river at Hogenakkal, which is
situated at 61Km from Chinnar reservoir.
Chinnar reservoir is one of the important
reservoirs in northern part of Tamil Nadu that need
serious attention in its management and conservation of
fishery resources. Detailed studies on fish fauna of this
reservoir are still lacking. To fill this gap, the present
study was carried out in order to examine the diversity,
distribution, threats and conservation plan for fish fauna
in the different spreads of Chinnar reservoir.
Raja et al., 2014
1318 Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The fish survey and collections were done
covering in 12 sites upstream/downstream of Chinnar
reservoir in Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu (Fig. 1)
viz; Chinnar Reservoir (S1), Panjapalli (S2), Periyanoor
(S3), Samanur (S4), Marandahalli (S5), Upparahalli (S6),
Chikkapavalli (S7), Sukkanahalli (S8), Nallur (S9),
Ganganahalli (S10), Chikkamarandahalli (S11) and
Gujjarahalli (S12). Fish were collected with the help of
gill nets, cast nets and drag nets during January-
December, 2013. The sampling was made in 100-200 m
stretches of each site. Local fisherman was involved in
netting and collection. The specimens were lively
photographed with Canon 1100 Digital SLR camera and
representative specimens of each species were fixed in
7% formalin and preserved in 70% alcohol for voucher
collection. The collected specimens were transported to
the Department of Biotechnology Cum Laboratory
museum of the Periyar University Museum of Natural
History (PUMNH- a newly started one in the year 2013),
Salem, Tamil Nadu, India and assigned the specimen
catalogue numbers (Accession number PUMNH 71-102.
The species identification was carried out using Talwar
and Jhingran, (1991); Jayaram, (2010) and nomenclatural
names were followed by the catalogue of fishes of the
California academy of sciences (Eschmeyer and Fricke,
2011; Pethiyagoda et al., 2012) and fish status was
checked in IUCN red list (IUCN, 2013).
Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327 1319
Raja et al., 2014
Figure 1. Showing the locations/ study sites of upstream/downstream
areas of Chinnar Reservoir, Tamil Nadu.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The details of fish species recorded from the
present study sites are given in Tables 1 & 2. The
Chinnar reservoir preserves a rich variety of fish species,
on the basis of studies conducted so far, as it harbour
thirty two (32) species of fish species (Fig.2); belonging
to seven (7) orders, ten (10) families and twenty four
(24) genera. Among those only one species of
Osteoglossiformes- Notopterus notopterus was recorded.
Cypriniformes dominates the catch list with seventeen
(17) species belonging to twelve (12) genera also, five
(5) species of Siluriformes belonging to two (2) families
and four (4) genera were seen. One species of
M u g i l i f o r m e s , C y p r i n o d o n t i f o r m e s a n d
Synbranchiformes such as Xenentodon cancila,
Aplocheilus lineatus and Mastacembelus armatus and six
(6) species of Perciformes belonging to three (3) families
and four (4) genera are identified.
In the upstream/ downstream of Chinnar
reservoir the presence of highest species diversity
(Fig. 3) was recorded in Chinnar reservoir (S1; n=22),
followed by the Panjapalli (S2; n=18). The lowest
species diversity was recorded in the Gujjarahalli (S12;
n=9) and Nallur (S9; n= 10). The present survey records
Raja et al., 2014
1320 Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327
Figure 2. Showing the some of the fish species collected from
Chinnar Reservoir.
the presence of three (3) economically important as well
as near threatened species, Mystus armatus, Ompok
bimaculatus, Oreochromis mossambicus; one (1)
vulnerable species Cyprinus carpio and twenty eight
(28) species are in least concerned categories. According
to IUCN 'Red list 2013' 3% of the species are in
vulnerable state, 9% are near threatened and 88% are
least concerned in Chinnar reservoir (Fig. 4).
The fish species such as Devario aequipinnatus,
Rasbora cauverii, Dawkinsia filamentosa, Puntius chola,
Puntius dorsalis, Pethia ticto, Pethia conchonius,
Aplocheilus lineatus having the prominent ornamental
value due to small size and bright colours can be used as
aquarium fishes. The economically important and high
commercial valued fish species such as Notopterus
notopterus, Gibelion catla, Labeo calbasu, Labeo rohita,
Ompok bimaculatus, Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes
fossilis, Mastacembelus armatus, Channa marulius, and
Channa punctata were also found in much abundance.
Whereas, only one species of hill adapted fish species,
Garra mullya was recorded.
The fish fauna of Chinnar River is under threat as
a result of several anthropogenic interferences;
deforestation leading to siltation, inorganic pollution of
the river, dynamite fishing, and recreational activities are
common in most of the stretches of the river. The
evidence collected from the local people and local
fisherman shown high decline in the fish population in
previous decade due to dynamite fishing by nearby black
granite quarry mining workers and excessive in stream
sand-and-gravel mining of the river belt.
The scientific studies on the environmental
impact of mining were carried out at different forest
regions (Ram Prasad, 1992). During October 10, 2009
the High court of Madras, appointed Professor
M. Arunachalam as an Expert-Commissioner to provide
an assessment of sand/gravel mining impact on Chinnar
Raja et al., 2014
Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327 1321
Figure 3. Species diversity within the study sites of Chinnar Reservoir, Tamil Nadu.
Figure 4. Conservation status of fish species collected
from different study sites of Chinnar Reservoir,
Tamil Nadu.
Raja et al., 2014
1322 Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327
Ta
ble
1 L
ist
of
fish
sp
ecie
s in
Ch
inn
ar
Res
erv
oir
, T
am
il N
ad
u.
Sl.
No
L
ist
of
Fis
hes
O
rder
F
am
ily
V
ern
acu
lar
na
me
Co
nse
rv
ati
on
Sta
tus-
(IU
CN
20
13)
1
No
top
teru
s n
oto
pte
rus
Ost
eoglo
ssif
orm
es
No
top
teri
dae
C
ho
ttaval
ai,
Chap
pat
hi,
Chen
nav
alai
Lea
st C
on
cern
2
S
alm
op
ha
sia
ba
cail
a
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Val
achel
, V
ella
chi-
kend
a L
east
Co
nce
rn
3
Sa
lmo
pha
sia
boo
pis
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Sam
paj
L
east
Co
nce
rn
4
Ba
rili
us
ga
ten
sis
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Art
cand
ee
Lea
st C
once
rn
5
Ba
rili
us
ben
del
isis
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Ven
nat
hi-
ken
dai
, A
kk
ili
var
atan
kend
ai
Lea
st C
once
rn
6
Dev
ari
o a
equ
ipin
na
tus
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Van
nat
hip
od
i, S
elai
par
avai
L
east
Co
nce
rn
7
Ra
sbo
ra c
au
veri
i C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Pat
taku
nju
, B
hav
ani
kend
ai
Lea
st C
once
rn
8
Am
bly
ph
ary
ng
od
on
mel
etti
nu
s
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Pac
hat
hal
ai k
end
ai
Lea
st C
once
rn
9
Cyp
rinu
s ca
rpio
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Car
p
Vuln
erab
le
10
D
aw
kin
sia
fil
am
ento
sa
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Chaval
le,
Mo
cha-
ken
dai
L
east
Co
nce
rn
11
P
un
tiu
s ch
ola
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Putt
i- k
end
ai,
Kar
oo
n
Lea
st C
once
rn
12
P
un
tiu
s d
ors
ali
s C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Sal
l- k
end
ai,
Pal
po
ora
n,
Mo
okan
am
- ken
dai
L
east
Co
nce
rn
13
P
eth
ia t
icto
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Pull
i kend
ai
Lea
st C
once
rn
14
P
eth
ia c
on
cho
niu
s C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Val
li k
end
ai
Lea
st C
once
rn
15
G
ibel
ion
ca
tla
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Kat
la,T
ho
pp
a m
een,
Ko
ora
kend
ai,
Kar
avai
L
east
Co
nce
rn
16
L
ab
eo c
alb
asu
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Kak
kam
een,
Kar
up
pu
sel,
Kar
unchel
, K
urr
imenu
L
east
Co
nce
rn
17
L
ab
eo r
oh
ita
C
yp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Ken
nad
i- k
end
ai,
Ro
hu
Lea
st C
once
rn
18
G
arr
a m
ull
ya
Cyp
rinif
orm
es
Cyp
rinid
ae
Kal
lu k
ora
vai
L
east
Co
nce
rn
19
M
ystu
s a
rma
tus
Sil
uri
form
es
Bag
rid
ae
So
nan
ng k
elet
ee
Nea
r T
hre
aten
ed
20
M
ystu
s ca
vasi
us
Sil
uri
form
es
Bag
rid
ae
Nai
kel
uth
i, V
ella
kel
ete
Lea
st C
once
rn
21
O
mp
ok
bim
acu
latu
s S
iluri
form
es
Bag
rid
ae
Sav
alla
i, S
ilai
val
ai
Nea
r T
hre
aten
ed
22
C
lari
as
ba
tra
chu
s S
iluri
form
es
Cla
riid
ae
Thal
- m
een,
Thal
- kend
ai
Lea
st C
once
rn
23
H
eter
op
neu
stes
fo
ssil
is
Sil
uri
form
es
Cla
riid
ae
Thay
lee/
Thai
lim
een
Lea
st C
once
rn
24
X
enen
todo
n c
an
cila
M
ug
ilif
orm
es
Bel
onid
ae
Ko
kk
um
een,
Vel
lai
mo
ora
l L
east
Co
nce
rn
25
A
plo
chei
lus
lin
eatu
s C
yp
rino
do
nti
form
es
Cyp
rino
do
nti
dae
M
und
akan
ni,
Manan
kann
i, V
anam
par
tha
mee
n
Lea
st C
once
rn
26
M
ast
ace
mb
elu
s a
rma
tus
Synb
ranch
ifo
rmes
M
asta
cem
bel
idae
A
arra
h
Lea
st C
once
rn
27
P
ara
mb
ass
is r
an
ga
P
erci
form
es
Cen
tro
po
mid
ae
Kan
nad
i m
een
Lea
st C
once
rn
28
E
tro
plu
s m
acu
latu
s P
erci
form
es
Cic
hli
dae
S
etha
ken
dai
, B
om
mi
Lea
st C
once
rn
29
E
tro
plu
s su
rate
nsi
s P
erci
form
es
Cic
hli
dae
S
ella
- kas
u,
Pura
di,
Sel
lad
ai m
een
L
east
Co
nce
rn
30
O
reo
chro
mis
mo
ssa
mb
icu
s P
erci
form
es
Cic
hli
dae
T
ilap
ia, Ji
lab
i-m
een
Nea
r T
hre
aten
ed
31
C
ha
nn
a m
aru
liu
s P
erci
form
es
Chan
nid
ae
Avir
i-P
uver
al,
Iru v
raal
L
east
Co
nce
rn
32
C
ha
nn
a p
un
cta
ta
Per
cifo
rmes
Chan
nid
ae
Ko
rava
Lea
st C
once
rn
Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(3): 1317-1327 1323
Raja et al., 2014
Ta
ble
2.
Fis
h d
istr
ibu
tio
n f
rom
up
stre
am
/do
wn
stre
am
are
as
of
Ch
inn
ar
Res
erv
oir
, T
am
il N
ad
u.
(‘+
’ =
Pre
sen
t; ‘
-’ =
Ab
sen
t)
Sl.
No
. L
ist
of
Fis
hes
S
1
S2
S
3
S4
S
5
S6
S
7
S8
S
9
S1
0
S1
1
S1
2
1
No
top
teru
s n
oto
pte
rus
(Pal
las,
17
69)
+
- -
- -
+
- -
+
- -
-
2
Sa
lmo
pha
sia
ba
cail
a (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) +
-
+
+
+
- -
- +
-
- +
3
Sa
lmo
pha
sia
boo
pis
(F
.Day
, 1
87
4)
+
+
- -
- +
+
-
- +
-
+
4
Ba
rili
us
ga
ten
sis
(Val
enci
en
nes
, 1
84
4)
+
+
+
- +
+
-
- +
+
+
+
5
Ba
rili
us
ben
del
isis
(F
.Ham
ilto
n,
18
07
) +
-
+
- -
- +
+
-
+
- +
6
Dev
ari
o a
equ
ipin
na
tus
(McC
lell
and
,18
39
) -
+
+
+
+
+
- +
+
+
+
-
7
Ra
sbo
ra c
au
veri
i (J
erdo
n,
18
49
) -
+
- +
+
-
- +
-
+
+
-
8
Am
bly
ph
ary
ng
od
on
mel
etti
nu
s (V
alen
cien
nes,
18
44
) +
-
+
+
- -
- +
-
- +
-
9
Cyp
rinu
s ca
rpio
Lin
nae
us,
17
58
+
- -
+
- -
+
- -
- -
-
10
Da
wki
nsi
a f
ila
men
tosa
(V
alen
cien
nes
, 1844)
- +
-
+
- +
-
+
- -
+
-
11
Pu
nti
us
cho
la (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) -
+
+
- -
+
- +
-
+
- +
12
Pu
nti
us
do
rsa
lis
(Jer
do
n,
18
49)
- +
-
- -
+
- +
-
+
- +
13
Pet
hia
tic
to (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) +
-
- +
-
- +
-
- +
-
+
14
Pet
hia
co
nch
on
ius
(F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) +
+
+
-
+
- +
-
+
- +
-
15
Gib
elio
n c
atl
a (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) +
+
-
- -
- +
-
- -
- --
16
La
beo
ca
lba
su (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) +
-
- -
+
- -
+
- -
+
-
17
La
beo
ro
hit
a (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22
) +
+
+
- -
+
- -
+
- -
+
18
Ga
rra
mu
llya
(S
ykes,
18
39
) -
+
- +
-
- -
+
- -
+
-
19
Mys
tus
arm
atu
s (D
ay,
18
65
) +
-
- -
+
- +
-
- -
+
-
20
Mys
tus
cava
siu
s (F
.Ham
ilto
n,
18
22)
+
+
- -
- +
-
- +
-
+
-
21
Om
po
k b
ima
cula
tus
(Blo
ch,
17
94
) +
+
+
-
- -
+
- -
+
- -
22
Cla
ria
s b
atr
ach
us
(Lin
nae
us,
17
58)
+
+
- +
-
- -
+
- +
-
-
23
Het
ero
pn
eust
es f
oss
ilis
(B
loch
, 1
794
) +
+
-
- -
- -
- -
+
- -
24
Xen
ento
do
n c
an
cila
(F
.Ham
ilto
n,
18
22)
- -
+
- -
- +
-
+
- +
-
25
Ap
loch
eilu
s li
nea
tus
(Val
enci
ennes,
18
46
) +
-
+
- +
+
-
+
+
+
+
+
26
Ma
sta
cem
bel
us
arm
atu
s (L
acep
ede,
18
00)
- +
-
+
- -
- -
- +
-
-
27
Pa
ram
ba
ssis
ra
ng
a (
F.H
amil
ton,
18
22)
- -
+
+
- -
- -
- -
+
-
28
Etr
op
lus
ma
cula
tus
(Blo
ch,
179
5)
+
+
- -
- +
-
+
- -
- -
29
Etr
op
lus
sura
ten
sis
(Blo
ch,
17
90
) +
-
+
- +
-
- -
- -
+
-
30
Ore
och
rom
is m
oss
am
bic
us
(W.K
.H P
eter
s, 1
85
2)
+
- -
- +
+
-
- +
-
- -
31
Ch
an
na
ma
ruli
us
(F.H
amil
ton
, 1
822
) -
+
- -
+
- +
-
- -
- -
32
Ch
an
na
p
un
cta
ta (
Blo
ch,
17
93
) +
-
- -
+
+
+
- -
- -
-
river ecosystem and the land use pattern along the
stretches of river below the reservoir. His report
concluded that, the river system under assessment needs
at least five years to restore and hence sand/gravel
mining should not be carried out for the next five years
(Arunachalam, 2009).
Instream sand mining resulted in the habitat loss
and channel morphology alteration leads to dreadful
conditions of aquatic biota; this continued mining cause
the entire stream to excavation (Kondolf et al., 2002) and
negative effects on aquatic life (Johnes and O’Sullivan,
1989). An increase in the amount of fine sediments
increase the amount of sediment-associated nutrients
(especially phosphorus) and contaminants in the river
water. This increases the amount of water quality
degradation caused by excessive nutrients with the
resulting negative impacts to aquatic life (Owens and
Walling, 2002; Correll, 1998). Ecosystem integrity also
embodies the degree of self-organization (Muller et al.,
2000). Once the system’s reliability is troubled by human
actions, the natural patterns of species structure and
associated ecological processes (e.g. food web dynamics)
are likely to be replaced by others that may not provide
the means for enduring species existence (Chellappa
et al., 2003). In India the protection of aquatic
biodiversity is ineffective due to the lake of scientific
data and conservation plans.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Interaction with the local fishermen and Inland
fisheries department regarding the abundance of fish
diversity in the Chinnar reservoir resulted the
overexploitation plays a major role to eradicate the fish
species. The majority of the fish catch is during monsoon
season. Only, nets with large size gill nets are allowed in
the rainy season, which are useful to catch the exotic
species. Culturing techniques for endangered/threatened
species should be developed to protect the endangered/
threatened species by taking critical steps to conserve the
genetic diversity. The removal of the exotic species,
Oreochromis mossambicus is advantageous to reservoir
fishery. The presence of tilapia decreases the population
of other fish species. Thus, it is beneficial to remove this
population by selective fishing. In view of the existing
practices there is an urgent need to take up certain
conservation approach to control the drastic drop down
in fish population and to save the vulnerable, threatened
species from wiping out of the region. Though, there are
certain legal restrictions in few areas, but it remained un-
productive due to lack of uniformity in its
implementation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The corresponding author is grateful to SERB-
DST (Government of India) - Start up Research Grant for
Young Investigators (vide File No. DST No. SB/YS/LS-
36/2013) and also thank Mr. S. Mariappan for line
drawing.
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