Fishing Gears used by Riparian Fishers Posing Threat to the Conservation of Rare Fish Fauna in North Bihar

Abstract

Riparian fishers, the hunters of wild fish fauna over generations adopted different techniques and gears for capturing fishes in different parts of the world. In this study different fishing gears used by Riparian fishers of north Bihar harvest for harvesting the fishes in the lotic water system are described. Traps of different shapes and sizes are used throughout the year to trap the fishes which account to majority of carnivorous types. The trapping of fishes was maximum during night but low during day. Wanton killing of juveniles and fingerlings of commercially important Indian major carps and low priced fishes can reduce the potentiality of riverine fish yield and also diminish the population of future brood fishes considerably.