Multidimensional Constraints to Native Fish Biodiversity Management: Perceptions of Fishers in North-East India
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Authors
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Martina Meinam
Central Agricultural University
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1718-9842
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Biswajit Lahiri
Central Agricultural University
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2225-3028
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Amitava Ghosh
Central Agricultural University
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4850-9570
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Anil Datt Upadhyay
Central Agricultural University
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2420-7543
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Soibam Khogen Singh
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9349-2021
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Prasenjit Pal
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8650-5768
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Yumlembam Jackie Singh
Central Agricultural University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8387-949X
Keywords:
Native fish biodiversity, Fishers, Constraints, Fisheries extension, Knowledge–action gap, North-East IndiaAbstract
Native fish biodiversity in North-East India is increasingly threatened due to environmental degradation, livelihood pressures, inadequate infrastructure, and weak institutional support. This study assessed the multidimensional constraints fishers perceive in managing native fish biodiversity in selected freshwater ecosystems in Manipur and Tripura. A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2023–2025 among 240 fishers from 12 villages across the Loktak, Pumlen, Rudrasagar, and Dumboor water bodies of Northeast India. Primary data were collected through personal interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Constraints were assessed using a five-point severity scale and analysed through Weighted Mean Scores, Kruskal–Wallis H tests, and eta-squared () for assessing effect size. Significant village-level differences were observed for all constraint dimensions (p<0.001), with large effect sizes for physical, environmental, marketing, infrastructural, institutional and overall constraints (η²H=0.495–0.914). In contrast, technology-transfer constraints showed a moderate effect (η²H = 0.120). Among the lakes, Pumlen recorded particularly high physical, marketing, and infrastructural constraints, whereas Rudrasagar showed comparatively lower constraint levels. The findings highlight a clear gap between biodiversity knowledge and its translation into conservation action. Sustainable management therefore requires location-specific, participatory fisheries extension interventions that integrate capacity building, market support, improved infrastructure, information access, and community participation.
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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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