R.C.U. Govt. P.G. College, Uttarkashi- 249 193, Uttarakhand, India

Division of Genetics and Tree Propagation, FRI, Dehradun- 248 195, Uttarakhand, India

The Bhagirathi River is an extensively large water resource and traditionally considered as a source of Ganga River. It is balanced by natural ecosystem with indigenous biodiversity of cold water fish species. The need of the hour is to emphasize and recognize aquatic resources as a part of an integrated approach driven by concerns for poverty, people’s livelihoods and rural development. There is a great potential for aquaculture and fisheries development for poverty alleviation in Uttarkashi. The Government provides household business to people in order to generate income from natural aquaculture lakes and ponds built by them. Aquaculture is a primary source of income and provides food security to the poor villagers of Uttarkashi. Therefore, it is required to focus research on identification of palatable fish species of Bhagirathi River and its tributaries. In view of this, the current research work was focused on the aquatic biodiversity of Barethi stream, Assiganga River and Bhagirathi River. The major fish species found in Bhagirathi and its tributaries are Snow trout(Schizothorax sp.), Mirror carp, Common carp, Brown trout (Salmo trutta fario L.), Garra lamta, Mahseer (Tor tor, T. putitora), Glyptothorax, Nemacheilusetc. Indigenous fish species along with exotic fish species are directly related with the enrichment of aquatic biodiversity of the region. However, increasing competition on the use of water resources and high population growth has lead to the depletion of resources and reduction in fisheries production. Therefore, proper management techniques such as electro-fishing, angling etc. are required to resist a marked decline in fish production of the region. This study provides information on the eco-social, aqua- bio-diversical and economic-cultural values of fisheries in Uttarkashi. Besides this, it also gives in-depth knowledge in breeding technology and tourism development with proper management of riverine fisheries. Moreover, sustainability of agriculture and its rural development approaches can be justified by taking into consideration the overall aspects of biodiversity and its aquatic resources.

Keywords: Aquaculture; Biodiversity; Exotic; Indigenous; Phytoplankton.