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Changing climate exerts significant pressure on coastal wetland fishery, ecosystems and livelihood at the eco-regional level. In the present study, an indicator and scoring-based vulnerability assessment framework was developed to assess climate change-induced potential impacts and vulnerability of the coastal wetlands through stakeholder perception and primary data collection on ecology and fisheries. The study was conducted in 12 coastal wetlands in the Gangetic estuarine regions of eastern India. Analysis of rainfall, temperature and extreme climatic events was also carried out. The climate variability in the region was analysed and discussed in the context of ecosystem health and sustainability indicators. The results indicated that anthropogenic stress has a greater influence on ecosystem services than climatic stress. However, the nature and degree of vulnerability of fishers to climate change vary with their capacity to adapt to such changes and alternate sources of livelihood. Altogether, 34 fish species were documented, belonging to 11 taxonomic orders, and categorized as per intensity of resilience using selected criteria. Perception-based climate-resilient adaptation strategies have also been discussed. Developing appropriate adaptation policies and implementing climate-resilient practices and management can minimize vulnerability and increase the adaptive capacity of fishers ensuring sustainable livelihood options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-scale fisheries sector plays very significant role in Indian fisheries. Fish life history parameters such as growth and morality are considered important factors for their conservation and management. Accordingly, the population parameters of a commercially important freshwater clupeid fish, Gudusia chapra (Hamilton, 1822) of Mathura beel, a tropical oxbow lake in West Bengal were investigated on the basis of primary data using a FiSAT-II software package. A total of 2062 specimens of both sexes combined, exhibiting a length (TL) range 1.7-15.4 cm and a weight range of 1.14-35.69 g, were collected from different sites of the wetland during October 2017-September 2019. The growth parameters L∞, K and t0 of the species were 16.55 cm, 1.10/year and -0.02, respectively. The growth performance (ϕ) was 2.48. The estimated mortality rates Z, M and F were 2.72, 1.25 and 1.47/year, respectively. The current exploitation ratio (E) was estimated to be 0.54 based on the length-converted catch curve. Analysis of the relative yield per recruit and relative biomass per recruit model indicated that the current E value is approaching an Emax value of 0.56. The maximum sustainable yield of this species was estimated to be 10.7 t, compared to the present annual yield of 11.5 t. For optimal fisheries management and a reduced risk of over exploitation, the current exploitation rate should be reduced by about 40% to achieve E0.5 as a target reference point. The information generated in the present study will facilitate optimal management of the resources for sustainable fisheries management and conservation of G. chapra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are among the most productive of all aquatic ecosystems. In developing countries, millions of marginal fishers rely solely on wetlands for security of both nutrition and livelihood. The decline in wetland fisheries owing to anthropogenic and climatic changes has made fishers increasingly vulnerable. Pen culture can be an effective climate-resilient technology for enhancing fish production in shallow, macrophyte-choked, and multi-stake floodplain wetlands, especially in eastern and north-eastern India. In this context, pen culture was implemented as an adaptive measure in a tropical Gangetic wetland (Mathura) to enhance fish production and increase the adaptive capacity of fishers. Indian Major Carps, Gibelion catla, Labeo rohita, and Cirrhinus mrigala of initial size 10.4±.21g, 8.2±0.48g, and 6.5±0.23g respectively, were stocked at the ratio of 4:4:2 and at the rate of 30 fish m-2 each in pens of 100 m2 in duplicate. For purposes of conservation, Labeo bata and Gudusia chapra, 4.3±0.18g and 3.8±.34g initial size, respectively, were stocked at the rate of 20 Nos.m-2 each at the ratio of 1:1. The fish were fed with commercial feed at the rate of 4% of body weight. A net survival of 82%, 87%, and 75% was recorded in Indian Major Carps, L. bata and G. chapra. A production of 380 kg IMC was achieved during 120 days of the culture period. L. bata achieved an average weight of 21.40±0.34g during the 90-day culture period, with a survival rate of 87%. G. chapra attained an average weight of 16.5±0.42g during the culture period, with a recorded survival rate of 75%. G. chapra was observed to spawn in the pen. The water quality inside pens and reference sites did not differ significantly (p>0.05). The produced fish were released in the wetland for fisheries enhancement. The present communication discusses the technological suitability and economic feasibility of adopting climate-resilient pen culture as an adaptation measure for enhancing the adaptive capacity of wetland fishers in the face of a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]