Fisheries ecology of the northeastern Himalayas with special reference to the Brahmaputra River

The northeastern Himalayan region is identified as one of the richest regions of the world in bio-diversity. Being in a heavy rainfall zone and also blessed with innumerable snowfed streams and rivers, the region is well-known for fish diversity especially for ornamental fish. The hill streams have poor but distinctive fish fauna, while the floodplain rivers of the region harbour over two hundred species of fish and other aquatic fauna, including the endangered freshwater dolphin, Platanista gangetica. The heels, or the floodplain lakes, are ideal habitats for air-breathing fish and they also act as feeding and breeding grounds for riverine fish during monsoon months. The present communication highlights the hydrobiological features and the ichthyofauna of certain selected water bodies of the northeastern Himalayas with special reference to the Brahmaputra River. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.