Him, J Bav. Zool, Vol. 6, 1992, pp. 17-125 IMPACT OF FARAKKA BARRAGE ON THE FISHERY OF RIVER PADMA (Receives! May 7, 1992; Accepted September 10, 1992) - BLL. Pandey Central Fisheries, No, 6-Indraprasth Housing Society, Gadital, E Hadapsar, Pune-411 028, India The total fish yield varied betwee 21.63 t (1979) to 53.85 1 (1980). Hilsa ilisha was predominant during 1978 (44.80%). 1979 (41.56%), 1982 (42.80%) and. 1983 (43.42%) while catfishes were abundant during 1980 (31.15%) and 1981 (1.05%). The ecological changes brought by the Farakka barrage has given the way for establishment of non-economic fishes in the niche. The total fish yield showed an increasing trend, the inerease being about 14.70% per annum. “Iwo marked fishery seasons in total fish yield are discernable i.e. monsoon season (Tuly-October) with high average seasonal index (129.03) and summer season (Aprilsiune) with an average scusonal index of 119.41. The total fish yield per | Km varied between 0.29 t (1979) to 0,72 t (1980). A direct relationship was observed between total fish yield and rainfall. River Padma lies betweon 88? 12'E to 88° 78° E in the district of Murshidabad (West Bengal) under Indian territory (Fig. 1.). A good deal of work on fishery aspects of different rivers has boon otudied by many workers'-®, as also summarised by Jhingran* Trend analysis has been adopted in the world’-"¥ while seasonal variations of landings were studied by constructing seasonal indices " ™. Choudhury et.al. dealt with the trend and | seasonel indices of fish catch statistics at Uzan Bazar (Gauhati). The present communication | deals with the fishery, trend, landing pattern and seasonal index of fish yiold from river | Padma duting the years 1978-1983 after construction of Farakka Barrage. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ine fish catch data were collected rogularly on three days each week-by dit observations during the years 1978-83 at Lalgola fish Market. The species-wise fish landings was recorded coparately. On the hasis of sampling, monthly and annual estimates were made specieswise. First degree straight trend line Yo = @ bx was fitted by the irectFishory of River Padma wea SE veaRs Fig. 1. Map showing investigation centre Fig. 2, Trend of total fish landings, 1973 95 on the river Padma. to WEIGHT IN M.TONS MONTHS Fig. 3. The landing pattern of total fish catch,j Pandey [119 x y 200 5 z 100 7 . i. neg, MONTHS Fig. 4. Seasonal index of total fish yield, 1978-83, method of least square to the total fish catch of river Padma, Seasonal indices have been ‘constructed by the method of porcontages of 12-month moving average", Multiplicative time series model has been employed, Y = T x S x C x I. Where T= trend, S = seasonal effect, C = cyclical effect, and 1 movements. An estimate ot T x Cis available from the 12-month moving avorago of monthly landings on the assumption that cyclical movements are over a large periods. The ratio of observed monthly landings to the 12-months moving average provides an estimate ‘of S x I. The average (oxpressed as percantaga) of annual values of soasonal effecte for ‘a month provides the seasonal index, corrected for rounding errors. The rain fall data were also collected for the above period and correlated with the fisheries of river Padma. imegular RESULTS EIRENE After commissioning of Farakka Barrage, the fishery encountered were major carps- Labeo rohita, L. calbasu, Catla catla and Cirrhinus mrigala, cat-fishes-Mystus (Aorichthys) or. M. seonghala, Silonia silondia, Pangasius pangasius, Wallago attu, Bagarius bagarius, Rita "1, Clupisoma garua and Eutropiichthys vacha, Hilsa ilisha, Notopterus chitala, murrels-ChannaFishery of River Padma 120 J marulius and Channa 5! matcolmsonii, Macrobrac seabriouus and Macrobr Gadusia chopra, Aspldoparia moran (Pastinachus) sephen ets. The dot : 1978-1983 are presented in Table The highest production di 1980 followed by 47.721 in 19! ir y nd incroased 0: : Sega aie ane a 92 ond 1983 respectively. While the average fisherng, and 80.34% during 1980, 1981, 19 vi bet population per km. was 91.3, the yield per km. varied bet (1980) with an average of 0.52 t. trials, prawns-Mac cr : shiurm lamarrei, = rmiscollaneous Species SUCH 28 Setpimy f° oe oon geba, Alia coila, Amblypharyngodon molar Cirrhinus © M ails of fish landings from river erobrachium birmanicum choprai, Macroba, obrachium birmanteus birmanicus, Mceroba, Padma during the ie! A en i ded to be S345). ° ing the entire period was recorded 1 Stig 309 end lowest during 1979 (21.63t) Fig. 2. The fishes inwards 104.38%, 78.94%, 60 79 woen 0.29 t (1979) to O79, The production of Hilsa ilisha varied from 8.99 t in 1979 to 20.72 t. In 1983 (average 13.55 t) eve 1983 2] LD RAIN FALLN MM, — “00 1979 300: 200 100. ° ea oe 1978 yew ams la SOND MONTHS Fig. 5 Rainfall around river Padma Major carps fisheries were of low magnitude (0.21 t in 1978 to 4.85 t in 1999) with an average of 1.91 t. Cat-fishes wore ebun. dant (4.70 t. in 1979 to 16.84 t. in 1980) with an average of 10.26 t. It is intoresting to note that the cat-fishes dominated in the total production during 1980 (31.18%) and 198) (31.05%)... chitala fishery was of low magnitude (0.15 t in 1978 to 0.52 t, in 1980) with an average of 0.22. Murrels were negligible. Prawn fishery was abundant (0.84 - t. in 1978 to 4.22 t. in 1980) with an average of 2.58%. Miscellaneous fishes were next to Hilsa ilisha during 1979 (26.72%) and next to cat-fishes during 1980 (27.37%) and 1981 _ (30.78%) Table 1. Juvenile fishery data collected during — the years 1981 and 1982 indicated that Mf. aor, M. seenghala ond W.utiu comprised the main fishery contributing 20% and 28.21%, 6.77% and 7.50% and 2.89% and 20.26% respectively towards the total production of the species. The major carps juveniles were of low magni- tude except Carla carla which contributed 1.88% and 10.88% towards the total , production of the species during 1981 and — 1982 respectively (Table 2),Pandey feast | Table 1. Group-wise Ast yield (t), percen from tte river Padma (percentag: Group 1978 1979 tage composition and average for the perind 1978-83, ‘shown in parenthesis). 1980-1981 "1982-1903 Tulal_Averaga Tor 1978-1983 Hilisha “11.80 899 12.75 11.08 15.98 20.72 130 1456 (44.80) (41.56) (23.60) (73.86) (42.80) (12.42) (04.05) Major cars 021 0.43 485 3.22 1.62 1101142 1.081 (0.78) (1.99) (9.02) (6.94) (4.32) (2.31) (4.90) Cattishes 7.43 8 4.70 16.84 1439 8.70 © 9.41. «61.47 10.28 (28.13) (21.73) (31.18) (81.05) (23.28) (19.72) (26.35) N.chitala 015 O18 052 0.28 010 010 192 0.22 (0.57) (0.74) (0.96) (063) 0.25) 0.20) (0.56) | Murrels - - = on 0.03 © 0.04 0.01 | oO (0.08) (0.02) k Prawns 0.84187 497,219, 2HD 3421S 25B | (3.18) (7.26) (7.87) (6.74) (6.93) (6.54) (6.63) Miscellane- 5.93 5.78 14.67 14.27 837 «13.24 «© 62.26 | 10.38 ous (22.54) (26.72) (27.37) (30.78) (22.42) (27.75) (26.69) | Total 26.36 21.63 5385 46.36 37.36 47.72 233.28 «38.9 i | Table 2. Species-wise juveniles fish catch from river Padma. eeeecScr 1912 Name of 1981 2 . species. Production (t) % Production (t) % oe SS SS See M. aor 0.38 20.90 0.42 26.21 M. seenghala 0.07 6.77 0.02 7.50 W. attu 0.02 2.89 0.06 20.26 SL. rohita Nil - 0.04 5.47 L. calhasu ‘3.96 kg. 4.95 Nil 38 +» catla 0.02 1.88 0.06 10.8 1.58 - mrigala Nil = 3.69 ks.Fishery ot Hiver Padma jod and calculated landings (M. tons). Observed Calculated ‘%s deviation landinge landings observed dais 1978 26.35 28.43 ss 1979 21.63 32.61 —33.67 1980 53.85 36.79 $46.37 1981 46.36 40.97 +13.16 1982 37.38 45.15 17.25 1983 47.72 49.33 3.26 Trends in Fisheries : The first degree trend tine of total fish yleld was estimated a Yo = 38,88 + 2.09 x (origin : 1980-1981). On the basis of this trend line, trend values were calculated for the years 1978-1983. The fitted trend together with observed toty landings are presented in Fig. 2. The observed landings and the calculated trend valug are shown in Table 3, The showed an increasing trend in fish landings over the sag years and during the same period the trend values showed an increase about 73.16+, (14.70%/annum). The overall average percentage variation is 2U.1/. Barring the yean 1979-1980, the percent vi tion ranged from 3.26 to 17.25 and the average percent variation comes to only 10.26, It was eeen that the landing pattorne witnessed te unusual abundance of the total fish yield in 1980 and high fluctuation in the other years, ‘These sudden changes might have high deviation of actual landings from trend values by about 46.37%, 33.67% and 17.25%, during 1980, 1979 and 1982 respectively. Landing pattern and seasonal variations : The fishery wes of low magnitude during Dacambar to February. The tatal fish yiald increased in March to April and decreased uyein in May. Though the fisn yield was ow in June except 1980 when it was of high magnitude. The high yield may be attributed to high run of migratory fishes viz. Hilea ilisha and Pangasius pangasius, The total fish yiold starts incressing during September and Octobe and decreased in November onwards. Thus the period April to June and July te Octobe! constitute the main season of the fishery, the peak generally appearing in the month ol April, July and October (Fig. 3). It is observed from Fig. 3 that the pattern of monthh landings is more or less similar in all years. Tho monthly indices show three distinct seasons of mark ditlerent landing pattern The monsoon season (July to October) dominates with an average index of 129.03 followed by summer season (April to June) with an average index of 119.41 (Fig. 4). The winteT x Cin the model, Relationship between total January to 448 mm in June July (average : 113 mm), ni landings and rainfall : The fainfall ranged between nil in ean 102.5 mm month: *), 2mm in March to 537 a in 1 No (average : 102.6 mm), nil in CenbelMonmber irae Sey (overage 136.6 seh nil in January to 263 mm in August (everage : 92.1 mm) aed all Wuhewma ane oes a September (average 124.6 mm month: 1) during 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, The canta eyenesPectively (Fig. 5). The total production and rainfall were low in 1978. 1 | i were more during 1979, as shown in Fig, 5, the catches were lower than previous year (Fig. 2). The decline in fishery may be attributed to the flood level et Feietha barrage and subsequent flow in river Padma alongwith rainfall might in turn cause changes in hydrological conditions in the river Padma and thus influences the fishery. The high fish landings during April to June and July to October in each year were associated with high rainfall, Figo. 3 and §, showing direct relationship. DISCUSSION Jhingran'* pointed out that the man-made changes in the riverine habitat had devastating effects on the fish stocks of Indian rivers, The biologically and economically desirable species have started tv giving way-value spt Prior to construction of Farakka barrage, the Padma fishery comprised of mainly Hilsa ilisha contributing more than 90% in the total fish yleld Ahmad’ and Anon? **. After commissioning of Farakka barrage, the miscellaneous fishes increased (range 22.42% in 1982 to 30.87% in 1981) Table 1. Subsequently, the carnivorous catfishes also increased and dominated the total fish yield during 1980 and 1981. The economically important 1. ilisha declined drastically from 283.21 t in 1974 to 11.80 t in 1978, The contribution of different groups in total fish yield during entire period 1978-1983 were : Hilsu ilisha — 94.85%, major carps — 4.90%, oat fishes — 26.35%, NV. chitala — 0.56%, murrels — 0.02%, prawns — 6.63% and miscellane- ous fishes — 06.69%. It is inferred that the ecological changes brought by Frakka barrage has given tho way for establishment of low-value species confirming the earlier contention of Jhingran ©, The fishery showed wide variation in its abundance anually srretes ean (Figs. 2 & 3). It is apparent thet the ennual production Se aa ae (17.919) and signifirantly increased onwards (60.72%, in 1982 to 04.36% n 1900), The fishery showed an increasing tend, the percontal increase heing ae124} Fishery of River Padma Graphic representation of the monthly landings for different months (Fia. 3) maintains somewhet stable state during January and February and an increase from March to October, followed by @ drop in fish yield during November and December months. 4 Kar Con The pattern of seasonal abundance of the fish (Fig. 4) showed that the catches were highest during the monsoon months i.e. July-October (seasonal index : 129.03) and lowest 8. Kar during the spring season i.e. February-March (seasonal index : 61.31). Itcan be inferred Lal that the monsoon fishery in the river Padma is predominant over other seasons due to § 3, migration of 1. ilisha and immigration of Pangasius pangasius. The seasonel index (119.41) (in during summer season (April-June) indicate the catches of P. pangasius migrating for breeding alongwith other cat-fishes. The water level is at lowest which probably facilitates = the operation of gears, Jhingran’ also corroborated the maximum abundance of carpg 8. Dy when water level was lowest in river Ganga at Buxar. 2.0 A perusal of Figs. 2, 3 and 5 inferred that the fishery of river Padma show apparently \n direct relationship with raintall. Ihe water trom Barrage Is released only, when the upper 10. stretch is flooded during September each year, The volume of discharge alongwith rainfall : induces maximum abundance of fish In the month of October each year. Thus the Padma fishery is influenced mainly by two factors : i) Rainfall in catchment area and ii) Release of water from Farakka barrage. Reduction of either of one may considerably affect the entim 12. | fisnery. i Jhingran’* reported the fish yield between 0.64 to 1.6 t per km. from river Ganga, Godavarl, Brahmputra and Krishna. Number of fishermen perkm. varied trom3.2in 14, Narmada to 7.8 in Ganga. In the present observation, the fish yield is estimated to vary between 0.29 t (1979) 10 0.72 t (1980) and fishermen 51.3 per km. It is apparent that the fishermen are densely populated around river Padma and the river has great stress of fishing activity in comparison to other rivers. ACKNOWLEDGEV ENTS 16. The author is yrateful to Late Dr, A V. Natarajan and Dr. A.G Jhingran, ex-Directors, 17+ Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute, Bartackpore for giving the opportunity 18 to work. He is indebted to Proressor B N. Pandey. Zoology department, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya for his noble guidance and thanks are also due to Prof. S.B. Singh and Prof, D.P. 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