Fish diversity and the conservation status of a wetland of Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India

A study was carried out from March 2016 to February 2017 to investigate the diversity of fishes and the conservation status of Bochamari Beel, a natural wetland of Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India. The study revealed the occurrence of 40 species of fishes belonging to 31 genera under six orders and 15 families. Cyprinidae was the dominant family with 14 species followed by Channidae with four species, Ambassidae and Bagridae with three species each, Nandidae, Mastacembelidae, Belontiidae, Siluridae and Clariidae with two species each whereas Cobitidae, Belonidae, Gobiidae, Anabantidae, Tetraodontidae and Notopteridae were represented by a single species each. The status of species of this beel included one Endangered species, one Vulnerable species and four Near Threatened species. The maximum fish diversity was recorded in the monsoon season (H’=2.876) as compared with pre monsoon (H’=2.124) and post monsoon (H’ =1.735). The evenness index varied from 0.640 (post monsoon) to 0.822 (monsoon), which indicates uneven distribution of fishes in this beel. Indiscriminate fishing throughout the year, along with extensive weed infestation could be responsible for depletion of fish diversity in this beel.