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The current status of capture fishery in the upper Sunkoshi River. (by R. Ranjit)

Inland Aquaculture and Fisheries Section, IAFS, Central Fisheries Building, Balaju, Kathmandu, Nepal

ABSTRACT

The capture fishery status of the upper Sunkoshi River was surveyed from 1998 to 2001 from Tatopani to Dollalghat. In the region hill stream fish were common and Schizothorax was the dominant fish. The most commonly used fishing gear was loop while electrofishing was also practiced. There were 45 full-time, 211 temporary and more than 500 occasional fishermen. Fishing spot visits and market surveys estimated an average of 22 tons of fish harvest per year from 800 ha of water surface area. Including electrofishing, the fish harvest of 27.5 kg per hectare of water surface area is considered to be rather low. The full time fishermen fulfill only 49% and temporary fishermen fulfill 27% of the basic needs of life indicating a weak socio-economic status of these fishermen. Due to the depleting tendency of the fishery resources the young generation of such communities has been leaving the fishing profession.

1. INTRODUCTION

Nepal has vast river drainages in the form of white energy. Water resources cover about 2.7% of the land area and are ideal habitats for indigenous fish fauna which supports capture fishery in the country. Traditionally, the capture fishery is carried out by fisher communities as the main profession. Therefore, the river basins play a vital role in the socio-economic status of the people of Nepal.

The Sunkoshi is an important river of the Koshi basin originating from a Tibetan mountain at an altitude of 5 646 m. It can be divided into upper mountainous course from Tatopani to Dollalghat and lower middle hill course from Dollalghat to Tribeni Dovan. The Upper Sunkoshi is a rhithron type of river and is 56 km long. Twenty-nine fish species have been recorded from the river during the present investigations. The river is a good fishing spot for asla (Schizothorax and Schizothoraichthys).

Recently, habitat destruction and overexploitation of the river resources by human activities have resulted in a decline in fish catches in the upper Sunkoshi River. There is a need for conservation strategies and mitigation measures. The paper discusses the present status of capture fishery and the potential for restoration of fish stocks in order to provide a sustainable fishery in the upper Sunkoshi River.

2. RIVER CAPTURE FISHERY IN NEPAL

Surface water resources of Nepal are represented by rivers and streams, lakes, reservoirs and swamps, covering nearly 420 500 hectares (IAFS, 1998). Among these, river basins represent 395 000 hectares (94 %) of the surface water resources including rivers, river basins and river floodplains (Shrestha, 1992, as quoted in Bhandari, 1992) (Table 1).

Table 1

Approximate water surface areas of rivers/streams


Sunkoshi River

Indrabati

Lwr Sunkoshi

Balfi Khola

Sunkosi Khola

Cha ku Khola

Other tributaries

Total area


St. 1.

St. 2.

St. 3.

St. 4.








Width of rivers (m)

42

75

80

85

86

85

32

22

18

4-1 4


Lenth of rivers (km)

10

15

16

15

16

10

10

12

10

100


Area (ha)

42

112.5

128

127.5

137.6

85

32

26.4

18

90

800

The rivers descending high mountains to lowland plains of Nepal are inhabited by diverse fish fauna. So far 186 indigenous fish species (Shrestha, 1994) have been recorded from river drainages of Nepal. These fish species exhibit a great diversity and have developed plasticity in response to the Nepal's varied topography.

The rivers of Nepal are used for drinking water, electricity production, irrigation, recreational activities and municipal uses. They have been traditionally used to catch fish. Thus the water systems provide employment opportunities, income generation and food for the local people.

Capture fishery is carried out by several fisher communities. The settlements of such traditional fisher communities are scattered along rivers. It has been estimated that about 24 167 (Pradhan and Shrestha, 1997) families were engaged in inland capture fisheries in 1995/1996. Fishing is now mostly supplementary to the traditional agriculture activities. The young people in such communities have been changing their profession and becoming only temporary fishermen, often as a supplement to other activities.

In Nepal the major river fishery sites are Tumlingtar on the Arun River, Khadichaur and Dollalghat on the Sunkoshi River, Chhatara and Koshi barrage area of Saptakoshi River, Malekhu, Rijalghat and Benighat of the Trishuli River, Deughat and Gaughat of the Narayani River, Dailekh and Chisapani of the Karnali River. In the fiscal year 1999/2000 river drainages of Nepal produced a harvest of 4 397.5 t (FDD, 2000) of fish.

3. STUDY AREA

Sunkoshi is an important river system of Saptakoshi drainage basin in the northeast of the Kathmandu valley. It is 256 km long with a catchment of 14 500 km2 (Shrestha, 1983). The uppermost portion of the river is known as Bhotekoshi and originates from a Himalayan mountain (5 646m) on the Tibetan plateau. It enters Nepal near Tatopani from where it continues south. At Dollalghat the Indrabati River joins the Sunkoshi and flows east to the rivers Arun and Tamor which eventually pass south as Saptakoshi drainage. The Sunkoshi river system can be divided into the upper stretch from mountainous Tatopani to mid-hill Dollalghat region, flowing rapidly south, and the lower stretch from Dollalghat to Tribeni Dovan flowing southeast to the Siwalik range, having a moderate water current. The upper Sunkoshi River is 56 km long. Altogether it has 78 tributaries of which the important are Jung Khola, Bhairabkund Khola, Khokundol Khola, Chaku Khola, Sunkoshi Khola, Balefi Khola, Adheri Khola and Bhushae Khola.

A hot spring with sulphurated water in the upper Sunkoshi River at Tatopani station is popular for religious baths. At Lamusagu there is a 10 MW electricity power station. However, the Sunkoshi River has power potential of 4 800 MW (Water Resources Commission). The Bhotekoshi River has a 36 MW power station at Phulpingkatti. Rafting is practiced on the Sunkoshi River.

4. METHODOLOGY

The study objective was an assessment of the status of capture fishery in the upper Sunkoshi River. The river was surveyed annually from Tatopani to Dollalghat along the Kodari roadside during three seasons (winter, summer and autumn) from 1998 to 2001.

Water quality was assessed at Tatopani, Barabise, Balefi and Dollalghat stations. Early in the morning fish landing sites were visited to make enquiries about fish species and their numbers, gear used as well as other details. The fishermen community residences were visited and individuals interviewed to obtain information on the fishermen's socio-economic status. During the visits fish species were collected from the landing sites and some from the markets.

Fish markets and fishing areas were visited once a month from December 1998 to May 1999 at Chhaku, Jambu, Barabise, Khadichaur, Balefi, Sukute, Chehere and Dollalghat. Later on quarterly visits were paid to the stations. An assessment of human interventions such as damming, poisoning, electrofishing, and habitat destruction along the river course were also made.

For physico-chemical water analyses the procedures as in the APHA (1989) were followed. Fish samples were processed in the laboratory. Questionaires were compiled and evaluated for the socio-economic status of the fishermen.

The fishermen were categorised as permanent or full-time, temporary or part-time, and occasional. The mean catch per day per fisherman and catch per fisherman per year were also assessed. The capture fishery in the upper Sunkoshi was estimated from regular market visits assessing fresh fish availability.

5. RESULTS

The altitude of the upper Sunkoshi River ranges from 492 m at Dollalghat to 1668 m at the Tatopani station. The upper Sunkoshi River has fast flowing water with a steep slope near the Tatopani station, a middle torrential course, followed by a lower moderate velocity course near the Dollalghat station.

5.1 Water quality and fish fauna

In the upper Sunkoshi water temperature was between 4°C-23°C, pH 6.4-8.3, dissolved oxygen 6-4 mg/L, alkalinity 45-62 mg/L, hardness 52-96 mg/L and conductivity 75-102 mmhos/cm. Schizothorax, Schizothoraichthys, Garra, Crossocheilus, Barilius, Psilorhynchus, Neolissocheilus, Botia, Pseudecheneis, Glyptothorax, Nemacheilus, Anguilla and Channa were common fish in the area and Tor, Labeo, Pseudeutropius, Bagarius were also found in seasonal catches. During the surveys altogether 29 fish species belonging to 18 genera, 6 families and 3 orders were recorded (Table 2). Fish composition by number and weight in the upper Sunkoshi River is shown in Table 3.

5.2 Fishermen and fishing methods

In the upper Sunkoshi River a total of 256 fishermen have been identified. Of these 45 were permanent or full-time fishermen, 211 were temporary or part-time fishermen, and more than 500 were occasional fishermen (Table 4). Among the 211 temporary fishermen 176 were legal fishermen and 35 were illegal electrofishing persons.

The most common fishing method was by nylon loop called paso. Normally the fishermen set the paso in the evening to be taken out early in the morning and repaired during the day. Depending on the season other methods such as cast nets, rigid push nets (ghorlangs) and rods are also used. Illegal fishing using electrofishing, poisoning, diversion of river channel and fry catching were also observed.

5.3 Fish catch and fishery potential

In the upper Sunkoshi the fishing activities take place for 8 months of the year during spring, summer, autumn and the early winter months. There is usually no fishing during floods and part of the winter season. The full-time fishermen fish for 6 months and catch 0.2-1.2 kg per day. The individual catch is around 126 kg per person per year. The 176 professional part-time fishermen generally fished 2-5 months per year and were labourers, mechanics, a few businessmen and a few job holders. The fish catches ranged between 0.4 and 1.0 kg per person with an average catch of 73.5 kg per person per year. However, the electrofishing fishermen caught fish in the range of 2-4 kg, with an average of 315 kg per fisherman per year, and they fished in groups of 3-5 people. Basically, occasional fishermen were non-fisher groups and fished for recreation. Such groups fished 2-10 times per year and caught 0.2-0.5 kg per day, with an average of 2.1 kg per person per year for consumption.

The fishermen fish in the main Sunkoshi river system and its tributaries. The estimated total length of the river with its tributaries is 214 km, with an average water depth of 1.2 m. The width of the Sunkoshi and its tributaries is 70 m and 53 m, respectively, covering approximately 800 ha of water area.

Table 2

List of fish species for the Upper Sunkoshi River

Family

Scientific Name

Family

Scientific Name

1. Cyprinidae

Barilius barila

2. Cobitidae

Nemacheilus beevani


Barilius bendelensis


Nemacheilus rupicola


Barilius vagra




Barilius sacra

3.Sisoridae

Glyptothorax telchita


Garra annandalei


Glyptothorax cavia


Garra gotyla


Glyptothorax sulcatus


Garra rupecula


Glyptosternum blythi


Labeo dero


Bagarius bagarius


Labeo angra




Labeo boga

4.Schilbeidae

Pseudeutropius atherinoides


Labeo dyocheilus




Neolissocheilus hexagonolepsis

5. Anguillidae

Anguilla bengelensis


Schizothorax richardsonii




Schizothoraichthys macrophthalmus

6. Channidae

Channa stewartii


Schizothoraichthys progastus




Psilorhynchus pseudecheneis




Tor putitora




Crossocheilus latius




Botia almorae



The fishermen sold 95% of the captured fish in the nearby local markets and the remaining 5% of fish they consumed themselves. The price of fresh fish ranged between 100 and 150 rupees according to the fiscal year. The total catch for year 1998/99 was estimated at 31 tons from the upper Sunkoshi River including the main upper Sunkoshi River, its tributaries and the lower Sunkoshi down to Deurali Daada. Twenty-four tons of fish harvest were estimated from markets and fish landing surveys (Table 5). For the years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001, 10 tons and 25 tons of fish harvest were estimated, respectively. The peak season for fish catch was in April and early May. Generally January and February were off-months. The average fish harvest of three fiscal years (1998/1999-2000/2001) was 22 tons including 5% individual consumption and the occasional fishermen harvests. In terms of monetary value, at the rate of NRs 125 per kg, it comes close to NRs 2 750 000 on average per year. From fish sales and availability of fish in the markets during three fiscal years (1998/1999 - 2000/2001), an average harvest of 27.5 kg per hectare of water surface area has been estimated.

Table 3

Fish population composition by numbers and weight in the Upper Sunkoshi River

Fish genus/species

Total No.

Percentage number

Total weight kg

Percentage weight

Schizothorax and Schizothoraichthys

608

24.9

21.3

35.9

Barilius

878

36.0

4.1

6.8

Garra

125

5.1

4.6

7.7

Glyptothorax

149

6.1

3.0

5.0

Pseudecheneis sulcatus

108

4.4

1.9

3.2

N. hexagonolepsis

117

4.8

4.8

8.0

Nemacheilus

41

1.7

0.077

0.1

P. pseudecheneis

338

13.9

2.0

3.3

Labeo

36

1.5

10.0

16.7

Others

38

1.6

8.0

13.3

Total

2438

100

59.8

100

Table 4

Classification of fisher groups and status of capture fishery in the Upper Sunkoshi River

Full time fishermen
(45)

Temporary fishermen (211)

Occasional fishermen
(> 500)



Legal methods

Illegal methods





Fish catch wt kg/ day/ fisher man

Fishing days/ year

Total fish wt kg

Fish catch wt kg/ day/ fisher man

Fishing days/ year

Total fish wt kg

Fish catch wt kg/ day/ fisher man

Fishing days/ year

Total fish wt kg

Total fish catch kg

Fish catch wt kg/ day/ fisher man

Fishing days/ year

Total fish wt kg

Total fish catch kg

0.2-1.2

180

5 670

0.4-1.0

105

12 936

2-4

105

11 025

23 961

0.2-0.5

6

1 050

30 681

Table 5

Fish market record in the Upper Sunkoshi River

Fiscal Year 1998/1999

FiscalYear 1999/2000

FiscalYear 2000/2001

Average harvest/ year

Date

Fish catch (kg)

Date

Fish catch (kg)

Date

Fish catch (kg)


16/12/1998

44

15/12/1999

25.0

20/12/2000

46.5


18/1/1999

18.7






17/2/1999

11.9

20/2/2000

5.4

19/2/2001

17.2


17/3//1999

70.4






15/4/1999

147.7






20/5/1999

94.9

18/5/200080

51.9

1/5/2001

142.5


Average

64.5/day


27.4/day


68.7/day


Total average harvest/year (kg)

23,542.5


10,000.1


25,075.5

19,539.4

5.4 Socio-economic status of fishermen

The total population of 256 fisher households had 1682 people of which 830 were males and 852 were females. The ratio of male to female was 49:51 and the average family size was 6.5 members. The main fisher group in the upper Sunkoshi River belongs to Majhi community, some to Dhami community and some to other communities representing 58% (149), 10% (25) and 32% (82) respectively. There were 342 school age children of which only 37% (126) attended schools (Table 6). The literacy rate of these fishermen was 11%, 25% and 57% among Majhi, Thami and other communities, respectively. The fishermen communities in the upper Sunkoshi River owned 0.244 hectare of land per family on average. But Majhi community owned only 0.142 hectare of land per family. The full-time fishermen were mostly older than the temporary fishermen.

The individual full-time fishermen were reported to earn 16 000 rupees per person per year, and the part-time fishermen earned 10 000 rupees per year. But from individual fishermen interviews the earning was estimated at around 27 000 rupees and 15 000 rupees by full-time and part-time fishermen, respectively.

5.5 Human intervention

Due to dam construction and diversion of river water for hydropower station about 3.2 km of the Sunkoshi River stretch below the dam site were without water flow. Fish habitat destruction due to sand quarrying and frightening of fish by splashing or whistling were also observed along the river course. Electrofishing was frequent.

Table 6

Socio-economics of fisherfolk in the Upper Sunkoshi River

Number of homes

Total population

Population

Family size

Visiting school

Land (hectare)

Economic status



Male

Female


Boys

Girls

Average/ Family

Majhi community/ Family

Basic need fulfillment (fulltime)

Basic need fulfillment (part-time)

256

1 682

830

852

6.5

89

37

0.244

0.142

49%

27%

6. DISCUSSION

The upper Sunkoshi River is a rhithron type of river (Jha, 1992). Due to topographic differences the river shows variations in water velocity and water quality. Above the Sunkoshi hydropower dam the number of fishermen and the fishing declined and near Tatopani no fishermen were found. The reason may be the fast water current due to steep topography. Hence the potential area for fishery activities was a stretch of 28.5 km from below the dam at Lamusagu to Dollalghat.

In the upper Sunkoshi River water temperature, pH and alkalinity decrease with increasing altitude. Dissolved oxygen and total hardness follow a reverse pattern. The conductivity of water gives higher values at two stations. The most common fish are Schizothorax and Schizothoraichthys of which S. richardsonii and S. progastus are the dominant species by weight. The genus Barilius is dominant by number. Psilorhynchus, Glyptothorax, Garra, Pseudecheneis and Neolissocheilus represent a good percentage in the fish species composition.

Above Lamusagu sahar (Tor putitora) and gounch (Bagarius bagarius) have not been found since the construction of the dam due to the obstruction preventing migration of these fish. In late 2000 the frequencies of electrofishing declined compared to the previous fiscal years due to the decrease in fish stocks. Fry netting in spawning and nursery grounds and use of poison are still practiced. Market surveys also showed a steep decline in fish catches in 1999/2000. However in fiscal year 2000/2001 fish catches have been improving due to a decrease in electrofishing. A negative impact of stone quarrying was observed in 2000/2001.

In the upper Sunkoshi River fishery resources contributed to the economy of the region, even though the economic status of fishermen is lower than that of other communities. The earnings of fishermen are very low. The permanent fishermen can cover only 49% and the part-time fishermen only 27% of the basic needs of life by fishing. The information collected on the fishermen's economics showed that the community needs to be supported by having other professions. And as the fish catch has been decreasing fishermen belonging to Majhi community have been taking up other professions. Recently most of them are labourers making gravel from stones along the river banks. Only a few members of fisher communities are going into fishing and mostly such persons are young boys without other employment opportunities. Female participation in fishing activities is negligible in the area.

When electrofishing is included, the upper Sunkoshi River harvest is estimated to be 27.5 kg per hectare of water surface area. This is considered to be below the fishery potential of rivers of Nepal.

To better understand the reasons for the decline in fishery resources in the upper Sunkoshi River the Inland Aquaculture and Fisheries Section has conducted several programmes:

7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The upper Sunkoshi River contains the important indigenous hill stream fish Schizothorax, Schizothoraichthys, Glyptothorax, Garra and the less common Psilorhynchus, Pseudecheneis, Glyptosternum blythi and Nemacheilus rupicola. Traditionally the system has been supporting a significant fishery by local fisher groups and the water body has a vital role in the economic status of fisher groups in the region. But due to destructive fishing practices and overfishing the fish stocks have been declining and the situation is in need of strategies for protection of fishery resources. The following recommendations intend to assist in maintaining a sustainable fish catch from the upper Sunkoshi River:

References

APHA, 1989. Standard Methods for the Examination of Waters. American Public Health Association, New York.

Bhandari, B.,!992. The management of wetlands resources in Nepal. Some observations. Paper presented at the Workshop on Indigenous Management of Agriculture and Natural Resources, organized by Winrock International at Dhudikhel, Kavre, 8-9 June 1992, Nepal.

Inland Aquaculture and Fisheries Section (IFAS), 1998. Prospect of Fisheries Development under the Agriculture Perspective Plan. Balaju, Nepal.

Fisheries Development Division (FDD), 2000. Annual Report of 1999/2000. Fisheries Development Directorate, Balaju, Nepal.

Jha, P.K., 1992. Environment and Man in Nepal. Know Nepal Serial No 5.

Jhingran, V.G., 1991. Fish and Fisheries of India. Third edition. Hindustan Publishing Corporation, Delhi, India.

Pradhan, G. and S. Shrestha, 1997. Status of fisheries and aquaculture development and their potential for future expansion in Nepal. Symposium on The Role of Aquaculture and Fisheries in the Economic Development of Rural Nepal.

Shrestha, H.M., 1983. Rivers of Nepal. A preliminary introduction. A glimpse of water resource development in Nepal. Nepal Digest.

Shrestha, J., 1994. Fishes, Fishing Implements and Methods of Nepal. Smt. M. D Gupta, Lalitpur Colony, Gwailor, India.

Talwar, P.K. and A.G. Jhingran, 1991. Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT. LTD., India.


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