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Fish species becoming extinct in Chilika lake

BHUBANESWAR: Chilika Lake, with its picturesque sprawling blue waters and lagoon’s tasty fish, has always attracted tourists. But fishermen are expressing fear over several species getting extinct.

A survey conducted with the help of key resource persons in seven villages located in the outer channel (Satapada and Parikuda) area during 2007-2008 revealed that as many as 11 fish species were found to be “locally extinct” or “near extinct” or “not part of regular fish catch.”

The study was carried out to ascertain the availability of various fish species. The key resource persons were asked to record fish species that were used to be a part of their regular catch a few years (less than 10 years) ago but not seen or caught in the recent years.

The result was surprising, as some commonly found fish species such as gania, chauli, chandi, balikhai, seba, kundala, baligarada, kanti, kanta, kadisha and sarabara were missing from the daily catch-basket, said Prateep Kumar Nayak, a research scholar from Natural Resources Institute of Canada-based University of Manitoba.

“Different reasons are responsible for this change. Fluctuation in desired salinity levels and sand infestations are major causes.

Similarly, loss of ‘chari’ in the lagoon areas, earlier known as home for fish and shrimp juveniles, and depleting food sources of fish are leading to stiff competition for food among the lagoon species,” Mr. Nayak said.

He said motorboats, especially in the Satapada area, also impacted the growth of fish resources.

Fishermen in and around the lake too feel the pinch. Of the 74,144 adults, 24,325 either abandoned fishing or were in the process of giving up their traditional livelihood options.

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