Ganga & brahmaputra

1. Dept. of Fisheries Resources and Management
College of Fisheries, KVAFSU
Mangalore-575002
Biodiversity of Ganga River

2. The Ganga river system
(total length 8,047 Km)
The Ganga is a major
river of the Indian
subcontinent rising in the
Himalaya Mountains and
flowing about 2,525 km.

3. Basic Information about the Ganges
River of India
Total Length of River Ganges 2,525 Kms (1,560 miles)
Average depth of Ganga River 52 Feet (maximum depth, 100 feet)
Place of Origin of Ganga River Foot of Gangotri Glacier
Area drained by Ganges River 1,000,000 Square Kilo meters (10 Lak)
Major Tributaries of Ganges Yamuna, Son, Kosi, Gandak, Gomati,
Ghaghara, Bhagirathi etc...
Cities on the bank of Ganges Kanpur, Soron, Allahabad, Varanasi,
Patna, Ghazipur, Bhagalpur, Mirzapur,
Buxar, Saidpur etc...
Reverine Res.
450000km 15, 45

4. • 15- Major rivers- Catchments >20,000 km2
• 45 - Medium rivers - Catchments >2000 to 20,000 km2
• Innumerable small rivers and desert streams
1.Himalayan river system –(Ganga, Indus & Brahmaputra)
2.Peninsular river system (East & west coast river system)
The river system of the country comprises:
The major river systems of India on basis of drainage- broadly divided into;

5. The main channel carries its maximum volume of water
during July –September at flow rates between 40,000 and
50,000 m3/second.
But in winter and summer months-dwindled to about
3,000 m3/second

6. Profile of Ganga River System
River
system
Name of main
river
Approximate length
(km)
state
G
A
N
G
A
Ganga 2,525 Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, west Bengal
Ramganga 569 Uttar Pradesh
Gomti 940 Uttar Pradesh
Ghaghra 1,080 Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
Gandak 300 Bihar
Kosi 492 Bihar
Yamuna 1,376 Punjab, Hariyana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh
Chambal 1,080 Madya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan
Tons 264 Uttar Pradesh
Son 784 Uttar Pradesh
ken 360 Madya Pradesh

7. Sub-Stretches of The Ganga River
Upper Ganga; Gangotri
to Haridwar
UG-1. Gangotri -Gangnani
(35.4 km)
UG-2. Gangnani-
Devprayag (145.8 km)
UG-3. Dev Prayag-
Haridwar (84.88 km)
Middle Ganga; Haridwar to Varanasi
MG-1. Haridwar-Bijnor (77.39 km)
MG-2. Bijnor-Narora (156.45 km)
MG-3. Narora-Fatehgarh (185 km)
MG-4. Fatehgarh-Allahabad (331 km)
MG-5. Allahabad-Varanasi (144 km)
Lower Ganga; Varanasi to
Ganga Sagar
LG-1. Varanasi-Patna
(253 km)
LG-2. Patna-Bhagalpur
(234 km)
LG-3. Bhagalpur-Farakka
(154 km)
LG-4. Farakka-Ganga
Sagar (98 km)

8. Habitat For The Fishes
Upper Ganga:
The river in the upper reach flows on steep bed and narrow terrain.
The substrate is mostly rocks, boulders and stones
The water is very cold (ice melt) having turbulent flow under high velocities sometimes up to
2.0-3.0 m/sec
Rapids are the major habitat followed by deep pools and riffles
The water is pristine or near pristine with little or no pollution
Middle Ganga:
River bed is wide with extensive flood plains, meandering streams on sand and pebbles
The temperatures of water are moderate and velocities low 20-30 cm/sec
Lower Ganga:
The river in lower reach has problems of sediment load, flooding and silt deposition through a
meandering water course
The flows are comparatively more after the confluence of major tributaries
The substrate is usually of silt over sand and accumulation of degrading organic matter

9. Biological Communities – Diversity
Major
categories
Ecological
groups
Taxonomic
categories
Name of organisms
Plant
materials
Phytoplankton
Phytobenthos
Chlorophyceae Euglena, Volvox, Chlamydomonas, Closterium
Spirogyra, Microspora, Ulothrix, Hydrodictyon,
Cladophora, Stigeoclonium, Schizogonium
Bacillariophyceae Fragilaria, Cymbella, Navicula, Nitzschia,
Gomphonema, Surirella, Synedra, Diatoma, Amphora,
Hantzschia, Tabellaria, Stauroneis, Coconeis,
Ceratoneis, Neidium, Rhoicosphenia, Pinnularia
Cyanophyceae Nostoc, Anabena, Oscillatoria, Rivularia
Plants parts Aquatic weeds Uticularia, Hydrilla, Vallisnaria, Aquatic ferns, mosses
Leaves, twig,
wood
Pieces and particles, fibres of higher plants
Animal
materials
Zooplankton Protozoans Amoeba, Euglena, Paramecium, Colpidium, Arcella,
Zoogloea
Rotifera Ascomorpha, Asplanchna, Trichocera, Philodina,
Lacane, keratella, Brachionus, Notholca, Polyarthra
Copepoda Cyclops, Diaptomus and their larval forms.
Cladocera Daphnia, Bosmania, Mesocyclops, Nauplius,
Ceriodaphnia and larval forms

11. Zoobenthos Plecoptera
(nymph of
stone flies)
Pereinella, Arcynopteryx, Isoperla, Aeronuria, Nemoura, Atoperla
Odonata (nymphs
of dragon flies)
Argia, Corixa, Octogomphus, Epicordula, Perogomphus, Enallagma
Ephemeroptera
(mayfly, nymphs)
Baetidae, Caenidae, Ephemerillidae, Heptageniidae,
Leptophlebiidae, Neoephemeridae
Trichoptera
(caddis larvae)
Hydropsychidae, Brachycentridae, Polycentropodidae, Glossosomatidae,
Limnephilidae, Helicopsychidae, Hydroptilidae, Leptoceridae, Limnephilidae,
Rhyacophilidae
Diptera Muscidae, Syrphidae,Tipulide, Limoniidae, Athericidae, Chironomidae, Culicidae,
Dixidae, Heleidae, Simuliidae, Tabanidae
Others Nymphal stages of water beetles and waters bugs
Coleoptera
(water beetles)
Sternolophus, Dianous, Helochares, Promoresia, Lacobin, Paracymus, Gyramus,
Prephynus, Coelostoma, Dysticus, Potamonectes, Hydracna
Hemiptera (water
bugs)
Micronocta, Helocoris, Lactotrephos, Corexia, Gerris etc.
Others Some molluscs (Neliosoma, Musculium, Physa, Macrobranchium),
nouroptoranflios, water scorpions and water mites.
Nekton Small sized fishes, larvae, fry and fingerlings of fishes (during food stress may be
used as food by the large sized specimens or as usual diet for piscivorous fishes),
amphibian tadpole as well as small sized higher vertebrates which find their way
accidentally in the streams.
Parts of
animal body
Fins, scales, bone pieces and teeth of aquatic vertebrates, parts of exoskeleton of
arthropoda, pieces of molluscan shells.

12. Categories Species Genus Families
(a) No. of fish from fresh water (UG-1 to LG-3) 189 80 28
(b) No. of fish from brackish waters (LG-4) 156 119 67
(c) Common fin fishes 13 9 7
Total 358 208 102
 Ganga river supports a large number of endemic and exotic species of fishes.
 The 265 species in inland fresh waters and waters of Hooghly estuary were reported.
 The compilation of records from other reports, research papers and dissertations and theses of
academic institutes add up to 358
FISH DIVERSITY OF THE GANGA RIVER
Vass et al. (2008)

13. COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT FISHES
Important Fishes Of Hooghly Estuary
Tenualosa (Hilsa) ilisha
Polynemus paradiseus
P. parsia
P. pama
P. Calcarifer
P. Indicus
Harpodon neherus
Setipinna phasa
Trichiursus spp
Scianna biauritus
Ilisha elongata
Tachysurus jella
Stromateus cinereus
(A).Indian
Major carps
Cirrhina
mrigala
Catla catla
Labeo rohita
L. calbasu
(B).Other
Carps
Labeo
pangusia
L. bata
L. dero
Cirrhina reba
(C). Large cat fishes
Sperata aor
S. seenghala
Silonia silondia
Wallaga attu
Pangasius pangasius
Bagarius bagarius
Rita rita
(D) Other cat fishes
Clupisoma garua
Eutropiichthys vacha
Ailia coila
Ompok bimaculatus
Ompak pabda
(E).Clupeoid
es
Hilsa ilisha
Setipinna
phasa
Gudusia
chapra
(F).Feather
backs
Notopterus
notopterus
C. chitala
(G).Exotic and other fishes
Cyprinus carpio*
Oreochromis niloticus*
Aristichthys nobilis* (Stray
catch)
Ctenopharyngodon idella*
(Stray catch)
Hypophthalmichthys
molitrix* (Stray catch)
Clarias gariepinus* (Stray
catch)
Puntius sophore
P.conchonius
Channa punctata
C. Marulia

14. The commercial value fishes includes:
1.Prized Gangetic carps
2.Large catfishes
3.Featherbacks
4.Murrels

15. Major Carps Cat Fishes
Hooghly Estuary Fishes

16. Mystus dibrugarensis
Parambassis lala
Arius maculatus
Rasbora rasbora
Badis badis

17. Schizothorax progastus Salmophasia bacaila
Labeo pangusia Danio rerio Labeo boga
Barilius tileo
Barilius vagra
Bangana ariza
Barilius barna

18. The sub stretch Gangotri to Gangnani is no Fish zone
The river continuum is disturbed between Gangnani and
Devprayag due to multiple hydroelectric projects.
The reach between Gangnani to Devprayag is inhabited
by carps.
The most typical being Trouts,
Schizothorax (7sp) and
Garra (3sp),
Barillius, Nemachilus,
Glyptothorax
From Devprayag to Haridwar a few species of
Mahaseer (Tor tor, T. putitora),
a few catfishes and Clupeoides make their appearance.
Mahaseer (Tor sp) is the most characteristic species of
the reach
Ganga River at Maneri Bhali I

19. Diversity In Middle Ganga
As per records 138 species belonging to 69 genus and 26
families have been reported
Cyprinidae is the largest group with 39 species which include
commercial major carps and other minor carps
The reach shows decline of carps and increase in catfishes and
forage fishes
Family MG -1 MG-2 MG-3 MG-4 MG-5
Scheilbedae 1 1 2 5 2
Amblyceptidae 1 - - - -
Cyprinidae 39 16 28 11 22
Anabontidae 6 - - 1 5
Sissoridae 4 1 - 2 3
Cobitidae 4 5 3 2 3
Chandidae 4 3 6 7 6
Notopteridae 2 2 2 2 2
Clupeidae - 1 - 2 3
Bagridae 3 7 7 9 7
Mugillidae 1 1 1 - 2
Siluridae - 1 5 3 -
Total 65 38 54 44 55

20. The zone sustains-
101 species belonging to
25 families
77 genra.
The most important groups like in middle Ganga are Cyprinidae
which includes 34 species
The characteristic group of fishes in the zone is the major carps
and large catfishes and other Catfishes, Clupeiods and
Featherbacks

21. Diversity (Hooghly-Matlah Estuary)
Hooghly Maltah estuary is the largest estuary spanning to about 0.8
million ha
The fresh water system is represented by Hooghly river and its
tributary Rupnaryan and many estuarine distributaries and creeks.
The Hooghly-Matlah estuary is known for its faunastic richness
The fauna represented by 156 species in 119 genra and 67 families,
which is evidenced by annual catch of about 40,000 tons.
The estuary is big which is influenced by 290 km by tidal influence
It is believed that the ecology of the Hooghly estuary has significantly
changed after commissioning of Farakka barrage in 1975

22.  Marine species migrating upstream and spawning in fresh water
areas of the estuaries like
 Tenualosa (Hilsa) Ilisha,
 Polynemus paracliseus,
 Sillago panijus
 Pama pama
 Fresh water species which spawn in saline areas viz.
 Pangasius pangasius
 Macrobrachium rosenbergii
 Marine forms coming into saline zones of the estuary for
breeding like
 Tachysurus jella, Osteogeniosos militaris,
 Polynemus indicus and Eleutherosema tetradactylum.
THE SPECIES COMPOSITION CAN BE GRADED INTO THREE
GROUPS

23. Fishing Gears
Hook and line is the main gear in the upper most stretch where no organized
fisheries exist.
Since game fishes exist in the reach, the only possibility is angling
The variously designed gears are used to suit local conditions such as depth of
water, water velocity and type of fish to be caught.
Dragnets (major and minor), Gill nets, purse net, scoop net, cast nets,
set barriers, traps, are normally used in fresh water stretches
In estuaries system, sine nets, purse nets, drift nets, lift nets, cast nets, bag
nets, set gillnets, set barrier nets and traps are used

25. On an average fish yield has fluctuated in the stretch between a high of
230 tonnes to a low of 12.74 tonnes during 1958-1995.
But major carps – 83.5 kg/ha/yr to 2.55 kg/ha/yr during 1958-1995
Decades Catch/km
1950s 1,344
1960s 1,168
1970s 529
1980s 665
1990s 333
2000s 362
The average catches from Ganga river system at Allahabad in different decades made by CIFRI
- Annual report CIFRI,2008

26. Pollution and Toxicity:
More than -29 cities
-70 towns
-Thousands of villages
Situated along the banks of the
Ganga
Estimated
 260 million lit of Industrial wastes dumped into the Ganga
 Nearly all of their sewage - over 1.3 billion L/d goes directly into the river
- Organic waste
- Sewage
- Solid waste
- Human and Animal remains
The majority of the pollution of Ganga is

27.  Pharmaceutical companies
 Electronics plants
 Textile and paper Industry
 Tanneries
 Fertilizers manufacturers
 oil refineries
The major polluting industries are:
- Hydrochloric acid
- Heavy metals (mainly chromium from leather Industry )
- Bleaches
- Dyes
- Pesticides
The hazardous waste includes from these industries are-
 There are also coal washeries and thermal power plants discharging there
untreated solid and liquid wastes into river

28.  The domestic sewage discharge was estimated as 1,528.1 million m3
Generating BOD load of 2,504 million kg/day
 Agricultural drains waste to the tune of 134.84 million m3.
The discharge from various industries into Ganga in early 1980’s has been
estimated as BOD load of 1.166 million kg/day
 Nitrogen(N2) – 8,87,333 tonnes
 phosphate (PO4) – 1,37,445 tonnes
 Potassium (K) – 91,247 tonnes
Fertilizers used in agricultural activities were release annually:
But now

32. The river supports copious biological growth in the form of phyto,
zooplankton, phtyo, zoobenthos and other higher forms including fish.
The fresh water fish population from Gangnani to Farakka is represented by
189 species under 80 genera and 278 families Osteichthys.
The Hooghly-Maltah estuary is represented by 156 species and 67 families and
13 species and 6 families of common fin fishes (chondrichthys).
35 species from fresh water and 13 species from Hooghly estuary have
commercial importance.
Major and minor drag nets are most commonly used as commercial fishing
gears. Others nets being used are castnets, scoopnets, traps, trawls and parse nets.
SUMMARY

33. Trout and Mahseer are the most important Devprayag and Mahseer between Devprayag
and Haridwar.
Exotic-species have started competing with carps especially in lower Ganga downstream
of Allahabad.
There is a remarkable reduction in the production capacity of fresh water fishes,
attributed mainly due to anthropogenic activities viz.
Flow interception due to large hydro-electric projects in upper Ganga
Abstraction of large quantities of water for irrigation in the form of canals (Upper
Madhya and Lower Ganga canals).
Increase of pollution load from urban areas along the river (domestic, industrial,
treated and untreated).
Increase in the sediment load due to deforestation.
Fishing in Ganga is not regulated. There is excessive netting in certain areas.
Exploitation of fries and finger lings of major carps by indiscriminate netting is also
rampant.
SUMMARY

34. References
* Ayyapan.S, 2011,Handbook of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Riverine fisheries, pp 169-207.
* Ray.P,1998 Ecological imbalance of the Ganga river system, Its impact on Aquaculture, Ecological
imbalance of Ganga, pp. 51-50.
* Jhingran, V.G. (1991), Fish and Fisheries of India, Riverine fisheries of India, pp 68-165.
* http://www.cifri.ernet.in/p1.pdf(Das, M. K., Samanta, S. & Saha, P. K. 2007. Riverine. Health and
Impact on Fisheries in India. Policy Paper. No. 01, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute)
* http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277355
* www.gits4u.com/water/ganga.htm
* http://iucncsg.org/ph1/modules/Publications/newsletter/csgnews231.pdf
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_of_the_Ganges
* www.terragalleria.com/photos/?keyword=ganga-river
* en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges
* www.prokerala.com › Maps › India Maps Index
* www.dayabooks.com/pages/8170351952.htm (Ecological Imbalance of the Ganga River System)
* http://www.ecofriends.org/main/eganga/images/Critical%20analysis%20of%20GAP.pdf
* http://www.slideshare.net/guest471c677/impact-of-climate-change-on-ganga-river-basin
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_of_the_Ganges
* http://gangapedia.iitk.ac.in/?q=content/book-title-human-impact-ganga-river-ecosystem

35. THANK YOU