Ichthyofaunistic resources of tripura: an overview

Being a part of North – East India, which is one of the hot spots of freshwater biodiversity in the world, Tripura afford lucrative habitats for variety of Ichthyo fauna in its lotic and lentic ecosystems and shares fish genetic resources with Indo-Gangetic plains. Among the North Eastern States, in terms of number of available fish species, Tripura stands third. It posses 147 species belonging to 79 genera under 34 families and 11 orders, which is 18% of Indian fresh water fishes and 54.3% of fish species of North East India. Among these species, 12 are exotic and rest are endemic, 5 species are endangerd and 10 are vulnerable.Except few almost all have food value and 64% have ornamental value. The state possess 6 species of cold water fishes. Barilius nelsoni, is a species, which has only been recorded from Tripura by Barman (2002). Marine/estuarine species (6 in number) are also available, which are migratory. Anthropogenic stress, which includes exploitation by wild collection and destruction of natural habitats is playing role in depletion of number of species. Though there are steady growth in fish production, emphasis on semi-intensive major carps culture playing negative role in depleting Inchthyo fauna resources of the state, which necessitates relook the issue.