Fish diversity of Imphal river, Manipur: Socio-economic importance and IUCN status

Abstract

Fishery and aquaculture sector plays a crucial role in supporting the nutritional and socio-economic security of the people of Manipur. The understanding of species distribution, temporal or seasonal occurrence, present form of existence and economic significance is highly essential for further studies on evolutionary pattern, molecular characterization, etc. In this context, the present study was carried out at Imphal river, Manipur by selecting three sampling sites (Koirengei and Kiyangei and Sekmai). A total of 42 species of fish belonging to 4 orders, 30 genera and 16 families were recorded. The order of Cypriniformes (59.52%) was found to be most dominant one. In term of temporal distribution of fish species, majority of the species are found throughout the year and only rare species (12 nos.) were found during rainy season. Most of the species belongs to least concern (LC) of IUCN species categorization. The species of Devario acuticephala, Devario aequipinnatus, Botia dario, Botia histrionica, Lepidocephalicthys berdmorei, Schistura sikmaiensis and Mustura prashadi can be used for both ornamental and food purposes.