Fish fauna of the Narayani River system and their impact on the fishermen community in Chitwan Nepal (by Dhital, R.R. and D.K. Jha)

R.R. Dhital, Fisheries Development Centre, Hetauda, Nepal
and
D.K. Jha, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science,
Rampur Campus, Chitwan, Nepal

ABSTRACT

Sixty-nine species of fish belonging to 9 orders and 19 families were collected from the Narayani River system, Nepal. Of these, 13 species can be classified as cold water fish. The status of each fish species is described based on the observations from the Narayani and some of the tributaries. Forty-seven fishermen families are catching fish and all fishermen have reported decreasing fish catches. At Gaindakot (Nawalparasi) the catch per person per gear per day was 0.9 kg and at the Bharatpur municipality it was 1.3 kg. Because of low catches some river fishermen seek alternative work. The demand for fish remains high. It is recommended to set up a fish farm for producting Tor putitora (mahseer/sahar) and Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (katle), protect the environment, minimise pollution, establish fish sanctuaries, ban destructive fishing methods and enforce fishery regulations.

1. INTRODUCTION

Chitwan District is located in the southwestern corner of the Central Development Region of Nepal, between latitudes 27°21' and 27°46' and longitudes 85°55' and 85°35'. It is a part of Nepalese midlands, a relatively flat area at an altitude of 244 m above mean sea level, with a sub-tropical climate. During heavy rains, a major portion of this area is flooded. The region is drained by the Narayani River catchment, and the river eventually discharges into the Ganga River in India.

The Narayani River is one of the largest rivers in Nepal. It is the final collector of seven extremely complex drainage systems of the Trans-Himalaya and consists of countless creeks, hill streams, rivers, forest lakes, wetlands, floodplains and oxbows. The Kaligandaki is the main feeder system of the Narayani. It originates on the Tibetan plateau and cuts through the Nepal Himalayas between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, forming the world's deepest gorge. After joining the Trishuli (also called Trisuli) River in Deoghat it is called the Narayani, which runs for approximately 332 km through Nepal before it spills onto the Gangetic plains of India. The Kaligandaki/Narayani system cuts through all of Nepal's varied zones and thus presents an excellent opportunity to examine the fish distribution along an impressive altitudinal gradient.

Small scale fishery is an important sector for rural fishermen. It provides employment indirectly through fish marketing and distribution, net making and boat construction. Despite the contribution of the fishery to the national economy, until recently this sector has been receiving less support from the Government than other sectors.

The present study investigated the distribution of fish fauna, fish catch and fisheries in the Narayani River system in Chitwan.

2. MATERIAL AND METHODS

Randomly selected fishermen at Narayanghat and Shivghat under Bharatpur Municipality, and Gaindakot and Kharkhareghat under Gaindakot Village Development Committee, were interviewed.

The rivers and streams of Chitwan were regularly visited from January 2000 to December 2000 to collect fish. The study area (Figs 1-3) was divided into seven localities based on the abundance of fish stocks:

I. North-eastern bank of the Narayani River at Sivaghat, Kharkhareghat and Koleghat
II. Rapti-Narayani confluence at Khoriamohan
III. Narayani River at Deoghat and Narayanghat
IV. Panesa stream, Dhungre River (Padamur) and Rapti River at Kasara
V. Khageri River at Tikauli (Tandi) and Budhi Rapti at Chitrasari
VI. Trishuli River at Kuringhat and Trishuli/Marsyangdi confluence at Muglin, and
VII. Irrigation canals of Chitwan and Lothar River.

Fish were collected with the help of locally prepared nets and traps. Special features of each habitat were recorded as well as the fresh colour of the captured fish. Fish were preserved in 5 to 10 percent formalin. To minimise colour fading, some specimens were also preserved in 70 percent alcohol. The fish were then identified in the laboratory. Their scales and fin rays were counted using the system of Srivastava (1988) and Shrestha (1981). Body depth and head length were measured. Fish were classified after Berg (1947). The identified specimens are kept in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, IAAS, Rampur Campus, Chitwan, Nepal.

Fig. 1 - Map of the river systems of Chitwan. Black dots indicate the sampling points

Fig. 2 - The Narayani, Kaligandaki, Seti and Trishuli rivers

Fig. 3 - The downstream section of the Narayani River

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Sixty-nine species of fish were collected from the Narayani River system in Chitwan. Order, family, local names, abundance and status of the individual fish species are listed in Table 1.

Table 1

Status of fish species in the Narayani River system

FISH SPECIES/LOCAL NAME & LOCALITY	ABUNDANCE	STATUS
I. Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
1. Gudusia chapra (Ham.)/suiya III, V, VII	Common in III	Local Migrant, Rare in upper stretches of the river system.
Family: Notopteridae
2. Notopterus notopterus (Pallas)/Bhuna, Patra II, IV, V	Common in IV	Rare in upper section. Found in lower section from July to November.
II. Order: Cypriniformes
Family: Cyprinidae
3. Aspidoparia morar (Ham.)/Chepua I, III	Common	Rare in other localities.
4. Barilius barna (Ham.)/Donrhi I, II, III	Common	Local Migrant.
5. B. bendelisis var. chedra (Ham.)/Faketa, Motia, I, II, III, IV, V, VII	Common	Abundant in all the sections. Used as bait.
6. B. bola (Ham.)/Chepua, I, II, VII	Resident	Mostly found in July to Sept.
7. B. jalkapoorei (Shrestha)/Galara, I.	Rare	Found in June to Oct.
8. B. tileo (Ham.)/Chepua, I, II	Resident	Rare in upper section Mostly found in May to June.
9. B. vagra (Ham.)/Chepua, I, II	Resident	Rare in upper section Mostly found in May to June.
10. Chagunius chagunio (Ham.)/Chaurahi, I, IV	Common	Local migrant. Common Food fish mostly found April to June.
11. Cirrhinus reba (Ham.)/Garahani, I, II, IV, VII	Common	Local migrant. Important food fish mostly found in June to Sept.
12. Crossocheilus latius (Ham.)/Budhuna I to VII	Common	Rare in upper section.
13. Danio devario (Ham.)/Chaiyapothi, I to IV	Common	Mostly found during low water phase from Oct to Jan.
14. D. rerio (Ham.)/Khida I to IV	Common	do
15. Esomus danricus (Ham.)/Denrhi I to IV	Common	Small fish having little commercial value.
16. Garra annandalei (Hora)/Budhuna I, V, VI, VII	Resident	Common in feeder streams.
17. G. gotyla (Gray)/Budhuna, I, V, VI, VII	Resident	Hill stream fish, mostly found in May to July.
18. Labeo angra (Ham.)/Basarhi, Rohu, I, II, IV, VII	Common	Local migrant, important food fish mostly found in May to August.
19. L. dew (Ham.)/Gardi, I, V, VI	Common	Important food fish. Migratory in nature, mostly found in July to Nov.
20. Osteobrama cotio (Ham.)/Chuna I, II, IV	Common	Rare in upper stretches.
21. Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (McClelland) III, VI	Rare	Important food fish, migratory in nature mostly found in upper section only.
22. Oxygaster bacaila (Ham.)/Chalhawa I, II, III	Common	Oct to December.
23. Puntius chola (Ham.)/Sidhre, I, II, III, IV, VII	Very common	Small size fish common every where.
24. P. conchonius (Ham.)/Sidhre, I, II, III, IV, VII	Very common	Small size fish common every where.
25. P. sarana (ham.)/Darhi	Common	Small size fish common every where.
26. P. sopore (Ham.)/Gujarahta	Common	Small size fish common every where.
27. P. ticto (Ham.)/Tikulia sidre	Very common	Small size fish common every where.
28. Rasbora daniconius (Ham.)/Dedhwa I, II	Very common	Small size fish common every where.
29. Semiplotus semiplotus (McClelland)/Mahanga III	Rare	Migratory mostly found in April to June.
30. Torputitora (Ham.)/Mahaser I, IV, V, VI, VII	Rare	Migratory mostly found in July to September.
31. T. tor (Ham.)/Shar I, IV, V, VI, VII	Rare	Migratory mostly found in July to Sept.
Family: Cobitidae
32. Botia lohachata (Chaudhari)/Baghe, I, II, III, VII	Rare	Mostly found in May to June.
33. Lepidocephalichthys guntea (Ham.)/Hile goira	Common	Mostly found in May to June.
34. Somileptes gongota (Ham.)/goira	Common	Mostly found in May to June.
35. Nemacheilus beavani (Gunther)/Goira, I, IV, VI, VII	Rare	Common in upper reaches, mostly found in May and June.
36. N. botia (Ham.)/Goira, I, II, IV, VI	Common	Mostly found in February to March.
Family: Siluridae
37. Ompok bimaculatus (Bl.)/Nanaria, I, IV	Common	Medium size fish found in lower stretches of the river
38. Wallago attu (Bl. & schn.)/Barari; Padhni, I, IV	Common	Large sized migratory fish mostly found in July to December.
Family: Bagridae
39. Mystus (M) bleekeri (Day)/Tengana, I, II, IV, VII	Resident	Small sized fish mostly found in June to November.
40. M. (M) cavasius (Ham.)/Sujaha, I, II, III, IV	Resident	Small sized fish mostly found in June to November.
41. M. (M) tengra (Ham.)/Tengra, I, II, IV	Resident	Small sized fish mostly found in June to November.
42. M. (o.) aor (Ham.)/Datari, I, II, III, IV, V, VI	Common	Medium sized fish mostly found in July to September.
43. M. (o) seenghala (Sykes)/Sujah, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII	Common	Large sized fish mostly found in September to Nov.
44. Rita rita (Ham.)/Tenger, I, II, III	Uncommon	Medium sized fish mostly found in July to September.
Family: Amblycipitidae
45. Amblyceps mangois (Ham.)/Paidani, I, IV, V, VII	Common	Small hill stream fish common during June to Sept, and Feb to March.
Family: Sisoridae
46. Bagarius bagarius (Ham.)/Gonch; Thenda, I, IV, VII	Uncommon	Largest catfish of Nepal mostly found in June to Sept.
47. Gagata cenia (Ham.)/Gogata, I, II, VII	Uncommon	Medium sized fish having.
48. Glyptothorax horai (Shaw & Shebbeare) Kursimlo, III, IV, VII	Uncommon	Medium sized fish, mostly found in June to September.
49. G. trilineatus (Blyth)/Capre, III, IV	Rare	Medium sized fish, mostly found in June to September.
50. Pseudecheneis sulcatus (McClell) Vedra, I, IV, VII	Common but rare	Local Migrant hill stream fish, mostly found in June to Sept.
Family: Schilbeidae
51. Clupisoma garua (Ham.)/Jalkapoor, I, IV, VII	Common	Delicious fish found in June to Oct.
52. Eutropiichthys vacha (Ham.)/Suha, I, IV, VI	Uncommon	Mostly found in upper stretches of the river.
Family: Saccobranchidae
53. Heteropneustes fossilis (Bl.)/Singhe, I, II, IV	Common	Common food fish, available through the year.
Family: Clariidae
54. Clarias batrachus (Linn.)/Mangur, I, II, IV, V	Common	Common food fish, available through the year.
III. Order: Angujilliformes
Family: Anguillidae
55. Anguilla benfalensis (Gray & Hardw) Rajbam, I, VI, VIII	Rare	Migratory fish, mostly found in July to Oct.
IV. Order: Beloniformes
Family: Belonidae
56. Xenentodon cancila (Ham.)/Kauwa machha, I, IV, VII	Common	Local migrant, mostly found in June to December.
V. Order: Ophiocephaliforms
Family: Ophiocephalidae
57. Channa gachua (Ham.)/Bhoti; Hile, I, II, III, IV, V, VI	Common	Small sized fish, found through out the year.
58. C. marulius (Ham.)/Saur, I, II, III, IV	Common	Large sized fish, rare in upper section of the river.
59. C. punctatus (Bl.)/Khasurhati, I, II, III, IV	Common	Small sized fish, found through out the year.
60. C. striatus (Bl.)/Gajhari, I, IV	Common	Medium size fish, throughout the year.
VI. Order: Symbranciformes
Family: Amphipnoidae
61. Amphipnous cuchia (Ham.)/Anhi; Andhabam, I, II, IV, VI	Common	It is an amphibious fish living in the muddy bottom. Found in June to Nov.
VII. Order: Perciformes
Family: Centropomidae
62. Chanda nama (Ham.)/Chuna, I, II, IV	Common	Small fish. Found in Oct. to Jan.
63. C. ranga (Ham.)/Chuna, I, II, IV	Resident	Mostly found in stagnant water pools in June to Nov.
Family: Nandidae
64. Nandus nandus (Ham.) Dhendari, I, IV, VII	Common	Mostly found in stagnant water pools in June to Nov.
Family: Gobiidae
65. Glossogobius giuris (Ham.)/Balkokra, I, II, IV	Common	Mostly found in the lower streams of the river.
VIII. Order: Mastacembeliformes
Family: Mastacembelidae
66. Macrognathus aculeatus (Bl.)/Kusot, I, II, III, IV, V, VII	Resident	Medium Size food fish, mostly found in stagnant pool during Sep. to Dec.
67. M. armatus (Lacepede)/Bam I, II, m	Common	Medium Size food fish, mostly found in stagnant pool during Sep. to Dec.
68. M. pancalus (Ham.)/Setamhi, I, II, III, IV, V, VII	Resident	Medium Size food fish, mostly found in stagnant pool during Sep. to Dec.
IX. Order: Tetrodontiformes
Family: Tetrodontidae
69. T. cutcutia (Ham.)/Phuwa, I, IV, V, VII	Common	Small sized fish, mostly found in lower stretch of the river.

	I, II, III:	Narayani river at Sivaghat, Kharkhareghat, Koleghat; Khoriyamohan and Deoghat and Narayanghat, respectively.
	IV:	Panesa stream, Dhungre river (Padampur).
	V:	Khageri river at Tiklauli and Budhi Rapti river at Chitrasari.
	VI:	Trisuli river at Kuringhat and Trisuli Marsyngdi confluence at Muglin.
	VII:	Irrigation canal of eastern Chitwan.
	Common:	Frequently noted during sampling period.
	Resident:	Never migrate according to local fishermen.
	Uncommon:	Very few represent in the sample.
	Rare:	Very few, sometimes absent, only repeated sampling revel the presence of the species.

The family Cyprinidae dominated with 34 species, followed by Siluridae (18 species). The Order Cypriniformes represented 75.36% of the total fish species, while none of the other orders represented more than 4.34% of the total number of species found. Among the 69 species, 13 cold water species (18.84%) were collected from the main course of the Narayani River. Out of these 8.69% represented important food fish, which were restricted mostly to the upper stretch of the river. Many of these were collected during floods.

Among the Cyprinidae, Labeo sp., Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis and Tor sp. were the dominant food fish. Catfish Wallago attu, Mystus seenghala and Mystus aor were common. Clupisoma garua and Eutropiichthys vacha are relished as food by local people; these two species appeared only during early summer. Amblyceps mangois was collected from the rivers Khageri and Dhungre. Glyptothorax sp. were collected from the Marsyangdi-Trishuli confluence near Muglin. Gudusia chapra was found only once. Anguilla bengalensis, a migratory fish, was collected at Sivaghat and Narayanghat from the Narayani River. It was also collected during floods from the rivers Lothar and Rapti. Upper reaches of the Narayani River have an abudnance of hill stream fish. Garra and Crossocheilus were collected from the localities V,VI and VII. These fish were also collected from the lower reaches of the river during monsoon. Tetraodon cutcutia was collected from the Dhungre River. Botia lohachata, Somileptes gongota and Pseudecheneis sulcatus were rare.

Among the previous records of fish fauna of the Gandaki River Shrestha (1981) reported 23 species, and Edds (1986) listed 111 species species from a longitudinal survey of the Kali Gandaki/Narayani river system from 100 m to 3 000 m. Jha et al. (1989) reported 68 species from the Narayani and Rapti river systems in Chitwan. Shrestha (1990) reported 85 species from the main stem of the Narayani River. We collected 69 species from Kuringhat to Khoriamohan and from the Khageri, Lothar and the Narayani river systems. Some species were also collected from the Rapti River near Kasara.

There are 47 fishermen families catching fish from the Narayani River. Only 10 families own a boat which is used for fish catching. They use cast nets, gill nets, scoop nets and hook line. The Narayani River is leased every year by the Bharatpur Municipality and Gaindakot Village Development Committee. The contract details are shown in Table 2. A fisherman has to pay Rs. 50 for one net and Rs. 250 per boat per month to the contractor. At Gaindakot (Nawalparasi) the average catch per person per gear per day was 0.9 kg whereas at Bharatpur Municipality it was 1.3 kg. Because of low catch some fishermen of Gaindakot and Shivghat search for alternative jobs, while other fishermen continue fishing or collecting fish from fish farmers. All fishermen have reported severe decrease in fish catches but the contract amount is increasing every year.

Fish fauna in the Narayani River has been declining because of unregulated fishing and use of destructive methods such as dynamiting, poisoning and fishing for broodstock during the spawning season.

Table 2

Contracts for fishing in two areas of the Narayani River

Bharatpur Municipality
Contractor	Year	Amount (NRs)
Yam Lal Acharya	2000/2001	61 000
Gorakh Sah	1999/2000	17 000
Rosahn Baniya	1998/1999	16 501
Gaindakot Village Development Committee
Mr. Thapa	2000/2001	7 100
Rambilash Sahni	1999/2000	13 000
Sambhu Sahni	1998/1999	9 000

4. RECOMMENDATIONS

Fish catches in the Narayani River have been declining because of the use of illegal fishing methods such as poisoning and fishing for broodstock during the spawning season. To preserve the fish stocks, controls should be imposed on illegal fishing practices and a fish sanctuary established. The deep water pools of the Narayani and their feeder streams should be declared fish sanctuaries for the protection of spawners.

The Narayani catchment has been subject to deforestation, resulting in erosion and silting of streams and rivers. There is a need for land rehabilitation measures to be urgently implemented in the watershed. The incidence of water pollution is increasing in the lower reaches of the river due to the discharges of industrial waste, and the illegal use of insecticides, pesticides and piscicides. Control over such activities must be strictly enforced.

Habitat improvement is an essential factor for fishery improvement. To avoid seasonal changes of water level, suitable pools should be created under the management of the local development authority. Such a practice will improve the fish habitat quality and avoid the winter desiccation.

Protection of fish stocks and fishery regulation should be based on periodic assessments of fish stocks. It is high time to enforce the existing fishery law and to restrict the use of nets with less than 2 cm mesh size. In the lower stretches of the Narayani River fish fry is collected for commercial purposes. There is a need for restriction of this practice.

Tor putitora (sahar) and Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis (katle) are highly priced fish, but their stocks are declining. A sahar/katle fish farm should be established near the crocodile farm of the Royal Chitwan National Park, and artifical breeding should be applied to produce these valuable fish under controlled conditions.

All fishermen have reported severe decrease in fish catches from the river and because of low catches fishermen from Gaindakot V.D.C. are searching elsewhere for alternative jobs. To keep them in the area an aquaculture programme should be implemented. Some areas of the river should be leased to the fishermen's community.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mr. Bhoj Raj Kandel and his staff of Bharatpur Municipality, Mr. Padam Pd. Ghimire, Secretary of Gaindakot V.D.C., and to Mr. Thapa, contractor of the Narayani River, for their help with obtaining valuable information from the fisher community and from fish landing areas.

References

Berg, L.S., 1947. Classification of Fishes, both Recent and Fossil. A.J. Reprints Agency, New Delhi, India.

Edds, D.R., 1986. Fishes of the Kaligandaki/Narayani River, Nepal. J. Nat. Hist. Mus. 10(1-4): 13-22.

Jha, D.K., M.K. Shrestha and S.C. Rai., 1989. Fish fauna of the Narayani and Rapti River systems in Chitwan. Nepal. J. Inst. Agric. Anim. Sci. 10: 87-107.

Shrestha, J., 1981. Fishes of Nepal. Curriculum Development Centre, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Shrestha, T.K., 1990. Fishes, Fishing Implements and Methods of Nepal. M.D. Gupta, Lalitpur Colony, Laskar, India.

Srivastava, G.J., 1988. Fishes of U.P. and Bihar. Third Edition. Viswa Vidyalaya Prakashan, Varanasi, India.