23rd ALL INDIA CONGRESS OF ZOOLOGY & National Conference on Conservation and Management of Faunal Resources for (CMFRS - 2012) October 3rd — 5th, 2012 Organized by Department of Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology & IQAC Guru Nanak College Chennai 600 042 Under the auspices of Zoological Society of India Bodh GayaIndia is covered by the presence of over 2358 native fish species belonging to the 868 genera under 225 families and 39 orders. These species are distributed into marine, brackish and freshwaters. In addition to these local species. the country has over 300 fish species introduced mainly in freshwaters. During last decades, these piscine diversity of the country is eroded due to natural and anthropogenic interventions. Of late the threats due to invasion of alien fish species has been identified as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity (CBD). Impact assessment studies on alien fishes revealed that presence of Oreochromis niloticus was displacing carps in the Ganga River, bighead Aristichthys nobilis strongly competed with Catla catla and was having potential to hybridize with Catla and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The naturalized population of common carp Cyprinus carpio was found to displace local spp. Various issues and risks posed by the alien fish species have been addressed in this paper advocating for the need of conservation and Tesponsible aquaculture and fishery development. Some of the management issues have also been addressed. PL-8: INDIGENOUS ORNAMENTAL FISH DIVERSITY OF WEST BENGAL: CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY B. K. Mahapatra and W. S. Laka Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Deemed University (ICAR), Kolkaia Centre, Sector-V, Salt Lake City, Kolleata-700 091 West Bengal is endowed with vast aquatic resources in the form of Rivers (1.72 Lakh ha), Canals (0.80 Lakh ha), Ponds/tanks (2.87 Lakh ha), Reservoir (0.27 Lakh ha), Beel & Boar (0.41 Lakh ha) and Brackish water fishery (2.10 Lakh ha). The Ganga-Padma river artery divides the states in two parts, North and South Bengal, The fishery resources of the West Bengal fall within the all three types of climate, i.e. tropical, sub-tropical and temperate and represent a strong omamental fish biodiversity, Based on modification of different parts of the body as adaptation to various adverse environmental conditions of the theophilic adobe, fishes are true hill stream forms, semi-torrential forms, migratory forms and plain water forms. West Bengal holds diversified indigenous ichthyofaunal resources which could be gainfully utilized as omamental fishes due to their brilliant colouration, shape or movement. These include both classified and non-classified type of aquarium fish. The small fishes like Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton), Ctenops nobilis McClelland, Pseudechenies sulcatus (Prashad& Mukerji) and Schistura multifasciarus Day are classified type of omamental fish, which can be reared in aquarium through out their life span. On. the other hand, some larger food fishes like Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (McClelland) and Tor tor (Hamilton) are also now treated as omamental fish in their juvenile stage and “ termed as non-classified ornamental fish. West Bengal is considered as a pioneer state in respect to omamental fish trade and Kolkata is the main place associated with this business. Altogether a total of 176 indigenous omamental fish species have been recorded from the diverse fresh water bodies of North and South Bengal which belongs to 98 genera under 41 families and 10 orders. Majority of the fish species belonged to Cypriniformes (76) followed by Siluriformes (51), Perciformes (30), Clupeiformes (05), Cyprinoodontiformes (04), Anguilliformes (03) Osteoglossiformes (02), Synbrachiformes (02), Gasterosteiformes (01) and Tetraodontiformes (01). Further, the family cyprinidae contributed maximum number of species (56), followed by Sisoridae (17), Balitoridae (13), Bagridae (12), Schibeilidae © 012 (Guru Nanak Coll October 3rd — PNT TAG 23rd All India Congress of Zoology & National Conference on Conservation and ‘Management of Faunal Resources for Sustainability (CMFRS 2012)© & a é October 3rd ~ 54 UU CE) sustainability (CMFRS 2012) Management of Faunal Resources fo ; i : ‘ Q i (08), Channidae (06), Clupeidae/Belontidae/Mastacembelidae/Siluridae (04) Gobidae/ Mugilidae (03), Ambassidae/Aplocheidae/Ariidae/Nandidae/Notopteridae/Olyridae/ Psilorhyndae and Synbracidae (02), Amblycipitidae/Anabantidae/Angilidae/ Belonidae/Centrpomidae/Chacidae/Claridae/Eleotridae/Engraulidae/Heteropneustidae/ Hemiramphidae/Lobotidae Moringuidae/Ophichthidae/ Pangasidae/Plotocidae/ Scatophagidae/ Sygnathidae/ Tetraponidae and Tetraodontidae (01). An appraisal on various threats in the water bodies of the states of West Bengal have been made such as unethical exploitation by using prohibited fishing methods, small meshed gears, chemical and herbal poisoning, dynamiting, habitat destruction and alteration by river water abstraction, by construction of dams, diversion of streams for irrigational purpose, pollution, sand mining, clandestine introduction of exotic and alien species in to the natural waters etc. This paper also discusses the management strategies to be implemented for the conservation and sustainability of freshwater omamental fish diversity in the state through conservation of habitat and conservation of fish stocks. PL-9: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION THROUGH CONCEPT OF SACRED ECOSYSTEM B.D. Joshi Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences Gurukula Kangri University, Hardwar;249404 ‘The concept of sacred groves has beenin practice all over the world since times immemorial. Almost all races have this concept of asacred ecosystem conservation with highest religious sanctity is still found prevailing, even among the urbanized societies of Europe and Canada. Case studies on sacred groves show that these small forest patches play an important role in biodiversity conservation. have been integral parts of human life in many parts of the world since ancient times. Here, we find that communities around the world traditionally protect natural sites that are dedicated to ancestral spirits or deities. Such sites cover a wide variety of habitats and are often located in biodiversity rich regions. The local communities have respected and protected them, through a sacredness associated with taboos. Sacred forests and groves are very important reservoirs of biological diversity, preserving unique floral and faunal species, Their existence has been threatened in many places of the world recently. Local communities no longer honor the traditional and cultural respect for these forests as economic hardship continues to bite. Altemative means of livelihood could offer @ protection to these forests. Development of Eco-tourism in the sacred forests of many countries could be one of the alternative options that may attract local communities to save these remaining patches of forest. However, as a network, the sacred groves in a region can preserve a sizeable portion of the local biodiversity in areas where it would not be feasible to maintain large tracts of protected forests and where protected reserves would be unlikely to receive local support. However, such a network would depend on there being a certain number of forest patches, each covering a minimum area Local communities could engage in eco-tourism activities within their areas. Income from such activities may help to offset economic hardships, and therefore may dissuade them from destroying such prestigious Tesources. Some of the profit generated from eco-tourism may also be used for conservation and management of the sacred forests, ponds, tanks, rivers, lakes even mountain regions. Policies to support such endeavor are already in place, What is needed now is for the governments to take this idea into the local communities in order for them to discuss it