Current Status of Three Major Carps (Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala and Catla catla) In the Downstream Indus River, Sindh

摘要

Present study was conducted to analyze the status of commercial important three major carps (Cirrihinusmirrigala, Labeo rohita and Catla catla) at Downstream Indus River. The samples were collected from March 2015 toFebruary 2016, from eight major landing areas. A total of 11912 fish specimen were collected from all sites. In thisinvestigation 77 freshwater fish species were identified, including 71 native species and 6 exotic species. All ofrecoded 77 fishes were belonged to 9 orders and 23 families. In all of them Family Cypirinidae was observed as thedominant family with 24 fish species (26%) followed by Bagridae 13 fish species (14%). In this investigation, threeimportant commercial species Cirrihinus mirrigala, Labeo rohita and Catla catla had been identified as the fish faunaof special concern. Those contribute in all catches only 4.28%, 3.53% and 1.64%, respectively. Population of theseeconomically important species is declining due to overexploitation, habitat degradation and aquatic pollution.Therefore, effective conservation measures are suggested to sustain major carps and fish fauna at DownstreamIndus River.