Fish Biodiversity in East Kolkata Wetland:Its Utilisation and Conservation

East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), the only Ramsar site in West Bengal, is very significant for the wise use of sewage water, especially for aquaculture and harbouring the biological diversity. The commercially important aquatic species in the EKW includes 58 species of fish, 11 species of prawns, 3 species of crabs and 20 species of molluscs. Among the 58 species 10 are exotic and 48 are indigenous fish species. In EKW, among the 58 species of fish, 17 are culture species and 41 are wild species. In this unique system, 308 city-sewage-fed fisheries are operating where treatment of the sewage and pisciculture are performed in the same pond. Eight indigenous fish, viz., Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo bata, Labeo calbasu, Labeo rohita, Lates calcarifer, Liza cephalous, Liza parsia and 9 exotic fish, i.e., Aristichthys nobillis nobilis, Clarias gariepinus, Ctenopharyngodon idela, Cyprinus carpio, Hypothalmicthyes molithrix, Oreochromis mossambica, Oreochromis nilotica, Pangassius sutchi, Piaractus brachypomus are being used for aquaculture. Fortyfive indigenous and 9 exotic fish species which are available naturally in EKW have good ornamental potential. Among the prawns commercially important species are: Macrobrachium lamarraei, Macrobrachium rude and Macrobrachium malcomonii. Sartoriana spinigera is an important crab species among all. Among the molluscan species important gastropods are: Bellamya bangalensis and Pila globosa, and Lamellidens marginalis is an important bivalve species in EKW.

This paper highlights the overview of fish biodiversity and utilization and discusses the management strategies to be implemented for the conservation of fish diversity in the EKW.