R.R. Dhital, Fisheries Development Centre, Hetauda, Nepal
and
D.K. Jha, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science,
Rampur Campus, Chitwan, Nepal
ABSTRACT
Sixty-nine species of fish belonging to 9 orders and 19 families were collected from the Narayani River system, Nepal. Of these, 13 species can be classified as cold water fish. The status of each fish species is described based on the observations from the Narayani and some of the tributaries. Forty-seven fishermen families are catching fish and all fishermen have reported decreasing fish catches. At Gaindakot (Nawalparasi) the catch per person per gear per day was 0.9 kg and at the Bharatpur municipality it was 1.3 kg. Because of low catches some river fishermen seek alternative work. The demand for fish remains high. It is recommended to set up a fish farm for producting Tor putitora (mahseer/sahar) and Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (katle), protect the environment, minimise pollution, establish fish sanctuaries, ban destructive fishing methods and enforce fishery regulations.
Chitwan District is located in the southwestern corner of the Central Development Region of Nepal, between latitudes 27°21' and 27°46' and longitudes 85°55' and 85°35'. It is a part of Nepalese midlands, a relatively flat area at an altitude of 244 m above mean sea level, with a sub-tropical climate. During heavy rains, a major portion of this area is flooded. The region is drained by the Narayani River catchment, and the river eventually discharges into the Ganga River in India.
The Narayani River is one of the largest rivers in Nepal. It is the final collector of seven extremely complex drainage systems of the Trans-Himalaya and consists of countless creeks, hill streams, rivers, forest lakes, wetlands, floodplains and oxbows. The Kaligandaki is the main feeder system of the Narayani. It originates on the Tibetan plateau and cuts through the Nepal Himalayas between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, forming the world's deepest gorge. After joining the Trishuli (also called Trisuli) River in Deoghat it is called the Narayani, which runs for approximately 332 km through Nepal before it spills onto the Gangetic plains of India. The Kaligandaki/Narayani system cuts through all of Nepal's varied zones and thus presents an excellent opportunity to examine the fish distribution along an impressive altitudinal gradient.
Small scale fishery is an important sector for rural fishermen. It provides employment indirectly through fish marketing and distribution, net making and boat construction. Despite the contribution of the fishery to the national economy, until recently this sector has been receiving less support from the Government than other sectors.
The present study investigated the distribution of fish fauna, fish catch and fisheries in the Narayani River system in Chitwan.
Randomly selected fishermen at Narayanghat and Shivghat under Bharatpur Municipality, and Gaindakot and Kharkhareghat under Gaindakot Village Development Committee, were interviewed.
The rivers and streams of Chitwan were regularly visited from January 2000 to December 2000 to collect fish. The study area (Figs 1-3) was divided into seven localities based on the abundance of fish stocks:
I. North-eastern bank of the Narayani River at Sivaghat, Kharkhareghat and Koleghat
II. Rapti-Narayani confluence at Khoriamohan
III. Narayani River at Deoghat and Narayanghat
IV. Panesa stream, Dhungre River (Padamur) and Rapti River at Kasara
V. Khageri River at Tikauli (Tandi) and Budhi Rapti at Chitrasari
VI. Trishuli River at Kuringhat and Trishuli/Marsyangdi confluence at Muglin, and
VII. Irrigation canals of Chitwan and Lothar River.
Fish were collected with the help of locally prepared nets and traps. Special features of each habitat were recorded as well as the fresh colour of the captured fish. Fish were preserved in 5 to 10 percent formalin. To minimise colour fading, some specimens were also preserved in 70 percent alcohol. The fish were then identified in the laboratory. Their scales and fin rays were counted using the system of Srivastava (1988) and Shrestha (1981). Body depth and head length were measured. Fish were classified after Berg (1947). The identified specimens are kept in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, IAAS, Rampur Campus, Chitwan, Nepal.
Fig. 1 - Map of the river systems of Chitwan. Black dots indicate the sampling points
Fig. 2 - The Narayani, Kaligandaki, Seti and Trishuli rivers
Fig. 3 - The downstream section of the Narayani River
Sixty-nine species of fish were collected from the Narayani River system in Chitwan. Order, family, local names, abundance and status of the individual fish species are listed in Table 1.
Table 1
Status of fish species in the Narayani River system
FISH SPECIES/LOCAL NAME & LOCALITY |
ABUNDANCE |
STATUS |
I. Order: Clupeiformes |
|
|
Family: Clupeidae |
|
|
1. Gudusia chapra (Ham.)/suiya III, V, VII |
Common in III |
Local Migrant, Rare in upper stretches of the river system. |
Family: Notopteridae |
|
|
2. Notopterus notopterus (Pallas)/Bhuna, Patra II, IV, V |
Common in IV |
Rare in upper section. Found in lower section from July to November. |
II. Order: Cypriniformes |
|
|
Family: Cyprinidae |
|
|
3. Aspidoparia morar (Ham.)/Chepua I, III |
Common |
Rare in other localities. |
4. Barilius barna (Ham.)/Donrhi I, II, III |
Common |
Local Migrant. |
5. B. bendelisis var. chedra (Ham.)/Faketa, Motia, I, II, III, IV, V, VII |
Common |
Abundant in all the sections. Used as bait. |
6. B. bola (Ham.)/Chepua, I, II, VII |
Resident |
Mostly found in July to Sept. |
7. B. jalkapoorei (Shrestha)/Galara, I. |
Rare |
Found in June to Oct. |
8. B. tileo (Ham.)/Chepua, I, II |
Resident |
Rare in upper section Mostly found in May to June. |
9. B. vagra (Ham.)/Chepua, I, II |
Resident |
Rare in upper section Mostly found in May to June. |
10. Chagunius chagunio (Ham.)/Chaurahi, I, IV |
Common |
Local migrant. Common Food fish mostly found April to June. |
11. Cirrhinus reba (Ham.)/Garahani, I, II, IV, VII |
Common |
Local migrant. Important food fish mostly found in June to Sept. |
12. Crossocheilus latius (Ham.)/Budhuna I to VII |
Common |
Rare in upper section. |
13. Danio devario (Ham.)/Chaiyapothi, I to IV |
Common |
Mostly found during low water phase from Oct to Jan. |
14. D. rerio (Ham.)/Khida I to IV |
Common |
do |
15. Esomus danricus (Ham.)/Denrhi I to IV |
Common |
Small fish having little commercial value. |
16. Garra annandalei (Hora)/Budhuna I, V, VI, VII |
Resident |
Common in feeder streams. |
17. G. gotyla (Gray)/Budhuna, I, V, VI, VII |
Resident |
Hill stream fish, mostly found in May to July. |
18. Labeo angra (Ham.)/Basarhi, Rohu, I, II, IV, VII |
Common |
Local migrant, important food fish mostly found in May to August. |
19. L. dew (Ham.)/Gardi, I, V, VI |
Common |
Important food fish. Migratory in nature, mostly found in July to Nov. |
20. Osteobrama cotio (Ham.)/Chuna I, II, IV |
Common |
Rare in upper stretches. |
21. Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (McClelland) III, VI |
Rare |
Important food fish, migratory in nature mostly found in upper section only. |
22. Oxygaster bacaila (Ham.)/Chalhawa I, II, III |
Common |
Oct to December. |
23. Puntius chola (Ham.)/Sidhre, I, II, III, IV, VII |
Very common |
Small size fish common every where. |
24. P. conchonius (Ham.)/Sidhre, I, II, III, IV, VII |
Very common |
Small size fish common every where. |
25. P. sarana (ham.)/Darhi |
Common |
Small size fish common every where. |
26. P. sopore (Ham.)/Gujarahta |
Common |
Small size fish common every where. |
27. P. ticto (Ham.)/Tikulia sidre |
Very common |
Small size fish common every where. |
28. Rasbora daniconius (Ham.)/Dedhwa I, II |
Very common |
Small size fish common every where. |
29. Semiplotus semiplotus (McClelland)/Mahanga III |
Rare |
Migratory mostly found in April to June. |
30. Torputitora (Ham.)/Mahaser I, IV, V, VI, VII |
Rare |
Migratory mostly found in July to September. |
31. T. tor (Ham.)/Shar I, IV, V, VI, VII |
Rare |
Migratory mostly found in July to Sept. |
Family: Cobitidae |
|
|
32. Botia lohachata (Chaudhari)/Baghe, I, II, III, VII |
Rare |
Mostly found in May to June. |
33. Lepidocephalichthys guntea (Ham.)/Hile goira |
Common |
Mostly found in May to June. |
34. Somileptes gongota (Ham.)/goira |
Common |
Mostly found in May to June. |
35. Nemacheilus beavani (Gunther)/Goira, I, IV, VI, VII |
Rare |
Common in upper reaches, mostly found in May and June. |
36. N. botia (Ham.)/Goira, I, II, IV, VI |
Common |
Mostly found in February to March. |
Family: Siluridae |
|
|
37. Ompok bimaculatus (Bl.)/Nanaria, I, IV |
Common |
Medium size fish found in lower stretches of the river |
38. Wallago attu (Bl. & schn.)/Barari; Padhni, I, IV |
Common |
Large sized migratory fish mostly found in July to December. |
Family: Bagridae |
|
|
39. Mystus (M) bleekeri (Day)/Tengana, I, II, IV, VII |
Resident |
Small sized fish mostly found in June to November. |
40. M. (M) cavasius (Ham.)/Sujaha, I, II, III, IV |
Resident |
Small sized fish mostly found in June to November. |
41. M. (M) tengra (Ham.)/Tengra, I, II, IV |
Resident |
Small sized fish mostly found in June to November. |
42. M. (o.) aor (Ham.)/Datari, I, II, III, IV, V, VI |
Common |
Medium sized fish mostly found in July to September. |
43. M. (o) seenghala (Sykes)/Sujah, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII |
Common |
Large sized fish mostly found in September to Nov. |
44. Rita rita (Ham.)/Tenger, I, II, III |
Uncommon |
Medium sized fish mostly found in July to September. |
Family: Amblycipitidae |
|
|
45. Amblyceps mangois (Ham.)/Paidani, I, IV, V, VII |
Common |
Small hill stream fish common during June to Sept, and Feb to March. |
Family: Sisoridae |
|
|
46. Bagarius bagarius (Ham.)/Gonch; Thenda, I, IV, VII |
Uncommon |
Largest catfish of Nepal mostly found in June to Sept. |
47. Gagata cenia (Ham.)/Gogata, I, II, VII |
Uncommon |
Medium sized fish having. |
48. Glyptothorax horai (Shaw & Shebbeare) Kursimlo, III, IV, VII |
Uncommon |
Medium sized fish, mostly found in June to September. |
49. G. trilineatus (Blyth)/Capre, III, IV |
Rare |
Medium sized fish, mostly found in June to September. |
50. Pseudecheneis sulcatus (McClell) Vedra, I, IV, VII |
Common but rare |
Local Migrant hill stream fish, mostly found in June to Sept. |
Family: Schilbeidae |
|
|
51. Clupisoma garua (Ham.)/Jalkapoor, I, IV, VII |
Common |
Delicious fish found in June to Oct. |
52. Eutropiichthys vacha (Ham.)/Suha, I, IV, VI |
Uncommon |
Mostly found in upper stretches of the river. |
Family: Saccobranchidae |
|
|
53. Heteropneustes fossilis (Bl.)/Singhe, I, II, IV |
Common |
Common food fish, available through the year. |
Family: Clariidae |
|
|
54. Clarias batrachus (Linn.)/Mangur, I, II, IV, V |
Common |
Common food fish, available through the year. |
III. Order: Angujilliformes |
|
|
Family: Anguillidae |
|
|
55. Anguilla benfalensis (Gray & Hardw) Rajbam, I, VI, VIII |
Rare |
Migratory fish, mostly found in July to Oct. |
IV. Order: Beloniformes |
|
|
Family: Belonidae |
|
|
56. Xenentodon cancila (Ham.)/Kauwa machha, I, IV, VII |
Common |
Local migrant, mostly found in June to December. |
V. Order: Ophiocephaliforms |
|
|
Family: Ophiocephalidae |
|
|
57. Channa gachua (Ham.)/Bhoti; Hile, I, II, III, IV, V, VI |
Common |
Small sized fish, found through out the year. |
58. C. marulius (Ham.)/Saur, I, II, III, IV |
Common |
Large sized fish, rare in upper section of the river. |
59. C. punctatus (Bl.)/Khasurhati, I, II, III, IV |
Common |
Small sized fish, found through out the year. |
60. C. striatus (Bl.)/Gajhari, I, IV |
Common |
Medium size fish, throughout the year. |
VI. Order: Symbranciformes |
|
|
Family: Amphipnoidae |
|
|
61. Amphipnous cuchia (Ham.)/Anhi; Andhabam, I, II, IV, VI |
Common |
It is an amphibious fish living in the muddy bottom. Found in June to Nov. |
VII. Order: Perciformes |
|
|
Family: Centropomidae |
|
|
62. Chanda nama (Ham.)/Chuna, I, II, IV |
Common |
Small fish. Found in Oct. to Jan. |
63. C. ranga (Ham.)/Chuna, I, II, IV |
Resident |
Mostly found in stagnant water pools in June to Nov. |
Family: Nandidae |
|
|
64. Nandus nandus (Ham.) Dhendari, I, IV, VII |
Common |
Mostly found in stagnant water pools in June to Nov. |
Family: Gobiidae |
|
|
65. Glossogobius giuris (Ham.)/Balkokra, I, II, IV |
Common |
Mostly found in the lower streams of the river. |
VIII. Order: Mastacembeliformes |
|
|
Family: Mastacembelidae |
|
|
66. Macrognathus aculeatus (Bl.)/Kusot, I, II, III, IV, V, VII |
Resident |
Medium Size food fish, mostly found in stagnant pool during Sep. to Dec. |
67. M. armatus (Lacepede)/Bam I, II, m |
Common |
Medium Size food fish, mostly found in stagnant pool during Sep. to Dec. |
68. M. pancalus (Ham.)/Setamhi, I, II, III, IV, V, VII |
Resident |
Medium Size food fish, mostly found in stagnant pool during Sep. to Dec. |
IX. Order: Tetrodontiformes |
|
|
Family: Tetrodontidae |
|
|
69. T. cutcutia (Ham.)/Phuwa, I, IV, V, VII |
Common |
Small sized fish, mostly found in lower stretch of the river. |
|
I, II, III: |
Narayani river at Sivaghat, Kharkhareghat, Koleghat; Khoriyamohan and Deoghat and Narayanghat, respectively. |
|
IV: |
Panesa stream, Dhungre river (Padampur). |
|
V: |
Khageri river at Tiklauli and Budhi Rapti river at Chitrasari. |
|
VI: |
Trisuli river at Kuringhat and Trisuli Marsyngdi confluence at Muglin. |
|
VII: |
Irrigation canal of eastern Chitwan. |
|
Common: |
Frequently noted during sampling period. |
|
Resident: |
Never migrate according to local fishermen. |
|
Uncommon: |
Very few represent in the sample. |
|
Rare: |
Very few, sometimes absent, only repeated sampling revel the presence of the species. |
The family Cyprinidae dominated with 34 species, followed by Siluridae (18 species). The Order Cypriniformes represented 75.36% of the total fish species, while none of the other orders represented more than 4.34% of the total number of species found. Among the 69 species, 13 cold water species (18.84%) were collected from the main course of the Narayani River. Out of these 8.69% represented important food fish, which were restricted mostly to the upper stretch of the river. Many of these were collected during floods.
Among the Cyprinidae, Labeo sp., Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis and Tor sp. were the dominant food fish. Catfish Wallago attu, Mystus seenghala and Mystus aor were common. Clupisoma garua and Eutropiichthys vacha are relished as food by local people; these two species appeared only during early summer. Amblyceps mangois was collected from the rivers Khageri and Dhungre. Glyptothorax sp. were collected from the Marsyangdi-Trishuli confluence near Muglin. Gudusia chapra was found only once. Anguilla bengalensis, a migratory fish, was collected at Sivaghat and Narayanghat from the Narayani River. It was also collected during floods from the rivers Lothar and Rapti. Upper reaches of the Narayani River have an abudnance of hill stream fish. Garra and Crossocheilus were collected from the localities V,VI and VII. These fish were also collected from the lower reaches of the river during monsoon. Tetraodon cutcutia was collected from the Dhungre River. Botia lohachata, Somileptes gongota and Pseudecheneis sulcatus were rare.
Among the previous records of fish fauna of the Gandaki River Shrestha (1981) reported 23 species, and Edds (1986) listed 111 species species from a longitudinal survey of the Kali Gandaki/Narayani river system from 100 m to 3 000 m. Jha et al. (1989) reported 68 species from the Narayani and Rapti river systems in Chitwan. Shrestha (1990) reported 85 species from the main stem of the Narayani River. We collected 69 species from Kuringhat to Khoriamohan and from the Khageri, Lothar and the Narayani river systems. Some species were also collected from the Rapti River near Kasara.
There are 47 fishermen families catching fish from the Narayani River. Only 10 families own a boat which is used for fish catching. They use cast nets, gill nets, scoop nets and hook line. The Narayani River is leased every year by the Bharatpur Municipality and Gaindakot Village Development Committee. The contract details are shown in Table 2. A fisherman has to pay Rs. 50 for one net and Rs. 250 per boat per month to the contractor. At Gaindakot (Nawalparasi) the average catch per person per gear per day was 0.9 kg whereas at Bharatpur Municipality it was 1.3 kg. Because of low catch some fishermen of Gaindakot and Shivghat search for alternative jobs, while other fishermen continue fishing or collecting fish from fish farmers. All fishermen have reported severe decrease in fish catches but the contract amount is increasing every year.
Fish fauna in the Narayani River has been declining because of unregulated fishing and use of destructive methods such as dynamiting, poisoning and fishing for broodstock during the spawning season.
Table 2
Contracts for fishing in two areas of the Narayani River
Bharatpur Municipality |
||
Contractor |
Year |
Amount (NRs) |
Yam Lal Acharya |
2000/2001 |
61 000 |
Gorakh Sah |
1999/2000 |
17 000 |
Rosahn Baniya |
1998/1999 |
16 501 |
Gaindakot Village Development Committee |
||
Mr. Thapa |
2000/2001 |
7 100 |
Rambilash Sahni |
1999/2000 |
13 000 |
Sambhu Sahni |
1998/1999 |
9 000 |
Fish catches in the Narayani River have been declining because of the use of illegal fishing methods such as poisoning and fishing for broodstock during the spawning season. To preserve the fish stocks, controls should be imposed on illegal fishing practices and a fish sanctuary established. The deep water pools of the Narayani and their feeder streams should be declared fish sanctuaries for the protection of spawners.
The Narayani catchment has been subject to deforestation, resulting in erosion and silting of streams and rivers. There is a need for land rehabilitation measures to be urgently implemented in the watershed. The incidence of water pollution is increasing in the lower reaches of the river due to the discharges of industrial waste, and the illegal use of insecticides, pesticides and piscicides. Control over such activities must be strictly enforced.
Habitat improvement is an essential factor for fishery improvement. To avoid seasonal changes of water level, suitable pools should be created under the management of the local development authority. Such a practice will improve the fish habitat quality and avoid the winter desiccation.
Protection of fish stocks and fishery regulation should be based on periodic assessments of fish stocks. It is high time to enforce the existing fishery law and to restrict the use of nets with less than 2 cm mesh size. In the lower stretches of the Narayani River fish fry is collected for commercial purposes. There is a need for restriction of this practice.
Tor putitora (sahar) and Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (katle) are highly priced fish, but their stocks are declining. A sahar/katle fish farm should be established near the crocodile farm of the Royal Chitwan National Park, and artifical breeding should be applied to produce these valuable fish under controlled conditions.
All fishermen have reported severe decrease in fish catches from the river and because of low catches fishermen from Gaindakot V.D.C. are searching elsewhere for alternative jobs. To keep them in the area an aquaculture programme should be implemented. Some areas of the river should be leased to the fishermen's community.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Mr. Bhoj Raj Kandel and his staff of Bharatpur Municipality, Mr. Padam Pd. Ghimire, Secretary of Gaindakot V.D.C., and to Mr. Thapa, contractor of the Narayani River, for their help with obtaining valuable information from the fisher community and from fish landing areas.
References
Berg, L.S., 1947. Classification of Fishes, both Recent and Fossil. A.J. Reprints Agency, New Delhi, India.
Edds, D.R., 1986. Fishes of the Kaligandaki/Narayani River, Nepal. J. Nat. Hist. Mus. 10(1-4): 13-22.
Jha, D.K., M.K. Shrestha and S.C. Rai., 1989. Fish fauna of the Narayani and Rapti River systems in Chitwan. Nepal. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 10: 87-107.
Shrestha, J., 1981. Fishes of Nepal. Curriculum Development Centre, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Shrestha, T.K., 1990. Fishes, Fishing Implements and Methods of Nepal. M.D. Gupta, Lalitpur Colony, Laskar, India.
Srivastava, G.J., 1988. Fishes of U.P. and Bihar. Third Edition. Viswa Vidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi, India.