62 DECEMBER 2015 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG some are tribal. Fish farmers are not well educated, with an age between 30 and 55. The amount of land owned by farmers was not evenly distributed; some have larger area while others hold a comparatively smaller land area. Some farmers, being unable to utilize their ponds, lease it to other fish farmers. The secondary income source of the majority of farmers is agriculture. There is no problem of water scarcity in the area, inasmuch as the Gomati River, a major river of Tripura, flows nearby. Sometimes, during the rainy season, ponds were inundated. Farmers note poaching as a problem, although not severe. Some farmers are well-to-do with a good social position. A detailed fishing activity study was conducted in the wetland to identify the fish available in the wetland (Table 2 and Fig. 1). A local fish market survey was also conducted to know the status of small indigenous fish species collected from the wetland (Table 3). Conclusion Freshwater aquatic biodiversity is under serious threats from human intervention in ecosystems. The demand of small fishes in the market is high but the supply is not sufficient because very few are aware of the production potential. Fish imported from Bangladesh have captured the local market. The price of small fishes are sometimes greater than that of large fish like India major carps, so more money can be made from small fish than larger ones. Small species do not require a large quantity of feed and manure, hence less input but higher returns. Moreover, small species do not require a large water volume and can be cultured in small or seasonal ponds. The major threats to small indigenous fish species are destruction of natural habitats, use of small-mesh nets, use of insecticides and pesticides on agricultural lands, industrial and domestic sewage pollution, siltation of natural water bodies, invasion of exotic species and disease outbreaks. Management of small indigenous fish requires a dedicated approach to thrash out problems and issues relating to conservation and promotion of culture. Notes Pampa Bhattacharya and Debtanu Barman, College of Fisheries, CAU (I), Lembucherra-799210 Tripura, India * Corresponding author: debtanu08@gmail.com References Barman, R. P. 2002. Fauna Series No. 7. Fish Fauna of Tripura (Part-1), Pisces: Freshwater Fishes. Zoolological Survey India 191-320 CSIR-India. 1962. Fish and Fisheries, Vol. IV, 132. Felts, R.A., F. Fajts and M. Akteruzzaman. 1996. Small Indigenous Fish Species Culture in Bangladesh (Technical brief), IFADEP Sub Project 2, Development of Inland Fisheries, 41 Mittermeier, R. A. and C. G. Mittermeier. 1997. Megadiversity: Earths Biologically Wealthiest Nation. Pages 1-140. In: McAllister, D.E., Hamilton, A. L. and B. Harvery, editors. Global Freshwater Biodiversity. Sea Wind, Cemex, Mexico City, Mexico. Thilsted, S.H. 2010. The role of small indigenous freshwater fish species in improving nutrition in rural populations. Abstract. longimanus) are rich in iron (Thilsted 2010) Although rural populations in many parts of India depend on indigenous species of fish for nutrition, very little attention has been paid to their role in aquaculture enhancement, nutrition, processing, biology, captive breeding, livelihood security and conservation needs. Many small indigenous fishes have become threatened and endangered due to pollution, overexploitation coupled with habitat destruction, water abstraction, siltation, dam construction, diseases and introduction of exotic varieties. To achieve sustainable utilization, appropriate planning for conservation and management strategies are important. Socioeconomic Status of the Fishermen of Hurijala Wetland Few people in Tripura know of the importance of SIS. People do not think of their production and commercialization, despite the high price in the market. Few fish farmers of Hurijala (Udaipur, South Tripura) have attempted culture of SIS in their ponds. There are 60 families engaged in fish culture as the primary income source for their livelihood in the Hurijala wetland area. Among them are six farmers doing fish culture on a large scale as their primary and secondary activity for income. Most fish farmers are Bengali and the majority belong to the Schedule Caste and TABLE 2. Percentage of different genera of fish in the total number of available species in the Hurijala Wetland of Tripura. Family (16) Genus (25) Species (37) Notopteridae Notopterus 1 Cyprinidae Catla 1 Cirrhinus 1 Cyprinus 1 Labeo 4 Puntius 4 Hypopthalmicthys 1 Amblypharyngodon 1 Esomus 1 Cobitidae Lepidocephalus 2 Bagridae Mystus 2 Siluridae Ompok 1 Schilbeidae Pseudeutrophius 1 Claridae Clarias 1 Heteropneustidae Heteropneustes 1 Aplocheilidae Aplocheilus 1 Synbranchidae Monopterus 1 Mastacembaleidae Macrognathus 1 Mastacembalus 1 Ambassidae Pseudoambassis 1 Chanda 2 Gobiidae Glossogobius 1 Anabantidae Anabus 1 Belontidae Colisa 2 Channidae Channa 3
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