Present status and threats to fish diversity of wetlands of Chhatak, Bangladesh

The present study was conducted for a period of one year from April 2016 to March 2017 to identify the present status and threats to fish diversity in the wetlands of Chhatak, Bangladesh. A total of 71 fish species, including prawn under 11 orders and 25 families were recorded from the wetlands. Cypriniformes (32.38%) was the most dominant order, followed by Siluriformes (25.35%), Perciformes (19.72%), Synbranchiformes and Channiformes (5.63%), Clupeiformes (4.23%), Decapoda (4.23%), Beloniformes (2.82%), Osteoglossiformes (2.82%), Tetraodontiformes (1.41%) and Cyprinodontiformes (1.41%). Cyprinidae was the most dominant family contributing 20 species. The recorded species were categorized on the basis of availability into four statuses and found as available (40.85%), less available (29.58%), rare (14.08%) and very rare (15.49%). The present study suggested that use of appropriate fishing gears, establishment of the sanctuary, community based fisheries management, stocking of commercially important fish species, implementation of fishing laws and regulation, Government support and fishermen’s awareness can save the valuable fish diversity of the study area.