An Overview of the Fishes of Indian Sundarbans and their Conservation Status

Abstract

Study of the fi shes of Sundarbans dates back to Hamilton (1822) and during last two centuries there is accumulation on knowledge on the fi sh fauna of Indian Sundarban. Based on published information and observations during the last decade, Indian part of Sundarban is known to harbour 305 species of fi shes as on date. About 73.8% of those fi shes are utilized as food fi shes and seen to be marketed fresh. While the Biosphere Reserve remains to be hope for replenishment of fi sh stock in and around, threats to the fi shes continue unabated. In all, 34 elasmobranchs under 20 genera and 10 families and 271 bony fi shes belonging to 173 genera and 61 families are known from Sundarban. Out of 34 species of cartilaginous fi shes found in Sundarbans, three are critically endangered, three endangered, nine vulnerable and ten near threatened as assessed by IUCN. Among bony fi shes six are near threatened and one vulnerable.