The river Ganges is the largest river in
India and the fifth longest in the world. Although, many
studies on fish ecology and systematic have been
conducted largely to improve fisheries but fish diversity
and their distribution pattern from conservation
point of view have never been adequately addressed in
the Ganges. In this connection, current distribution and
abundance of freshwater fishes of river Ganges was
studied and assessed from April 2007 to March 2009.
We documented and described 143 freshwater fish
species in the all stretches of the river which is higher
than what was reported earlier. Some species were
observed with shift in their distribution ranges. First
time, a total of 10 exotic fishes, including Pterygoplichthys
anisitsi, which has never been reported from
India found in the Ganges. Alterations of the hydrological
pattern due to various types of hydro projects
was seems to be the largest threat to fishes of Ganges.
Indiscriminate and illegal fishing, pollution, water
abstraction, siltation and invasion of exotic species are
also threatening the fish diversity in the Ganges and as
many as 29 species are listed under threatened
category. The study advocates a need to identify
critical fish habitats in the Ganga basin to declare them
as conservation reserves to mitigate the loss of fish
diversity from this mighty large river.