Fish biodiversity and their present conservation status in the Meghna River of Bangladesh

Abstract

This study was conducted between January 2016 and December 2016 with a view to assessing the biodiversity of fishes in the River Meghna and their conservation status both in Bangladesh and global aspects. A total of 107 fish species belonging to 13 orders and 36 families were documented. Perciformes was found to be the most dominant order consisting 32% of the total fish population. Cyprinidae was found to be the richest family (16%). Twenty common groups were recorded in the studied areas. Estuary-River was found to be the biggest habitat for the maximum number of fishes (43%). Twenty one threatened fish species (20%) were recorded from the River Meghna in which 11 species (10.28%) were found as Vulnerable (VU), 8 species (7.48%) as Endangered (EN) and 2 species (2%) as Critically Endangered (CR). Steps should be taken to conserve threatened fish species of Meghna River from the risk of extinction.