Ameliorating underutilized fish genetic resources (UFGR) against poverty, hunger and malnutrition in Nepal
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The document discusses the status and importance of underutilized fish genetic resources (UFGR) in Nepal, highlighting their role in alleviating poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. It outlines various factors affecting fish production, conservation efforts, the economic contribution of fisheries, and challenges such as habitat destruction and climate change. The authors recommend focused strategies to conserve and commercialize these resources due to their potential economic benefits.
Ameliorating underutilized fish genetic resources (UFGR) against poverty, hunger and malnutrition in Nepal
- 1. Ameliorating underutilized fish genetic resources (UFGR) against poverty, hunger and malnutrition in Nepal Neeta Pradhan, Asha Rayamajhi, Prem Timalsina and Tek Bahadur Gurung Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Nepal
- 2. 1. Introduction • Land linked mountainous country • Total area 147,181 km2 • Elevation extremes: 59 to 8848 m within 150 to 250 Km transects. • Population: 28.7 million. Resource details Estimated area (ha) Natural water Rivers 395000 Lakes 5000 Reservoirs 1500 Village ponds 9934 Seasonal water Marginal swamps 9000 Irrigated rice fields 398000 Total 818434 Water resources of Nepal
- 3. • Per capita Fish/Meat Availability 14.3Kg. • Contribution of Fish in Fish/Meat 19.3%. • Twenty of the 103 ethnic group are heavily involved in capture fisheries. • The prominent groups are: Tharu (Rana/ Dangaura), Mushar, Mallah, Bote, Bantar, Danuwars, Majhis, Darai, Kumal, Barhamus/ Baramu, Dhangar/Jhagar, Dusadh/Paswan/Pasi, Kewat, Kachhare, Pahari, Kushar, Pode/Jalari, Gongi, Sahani, Suneha, Mukhiya. • Other communities: Harijan, Kahar, Gaun, Pali, Yadav, Dhami, Godhi, Bin, Mukhiya and other castes (eg. Brahman, Chhetri, Shahi. Thapa, Malla, Gurung, Magar etc.) of low profile. 2. Importance of FGR in national economy and food security
- 4. Rice field, Bardia Phewa shore, Pokhara Fish in ditches, Rupandehi • Capture fisheries represents major source of income for marginal farmers and landless fishers community. • Capture fisheries serve as a “safety net” to landless poor or in the event of other livelihoods failing.
- 5. Attributes Upper Sunkoshi Koshi River Kali Gandaki Phewa Lake Danda stream % fisher Full time fisher Family 45 445 57 18 5.0 Part time fisher Family 211 17 37 110 60.0 Occasional fisher Family 500 35.0 Annual income Full time fisher (NRs) 27000 21926 13379 68624 na Part time fisher (NRs) 15000 6500 37800 28800 % share of capture fishery of native fish to annual income 49.0 64.0 45.0 54.1 Fish consumption, kg / year / person 2.6 12.4 3.0 7.2 14.3 share of capture fishery to annual income of fisher in some fishing areas Source: Wagle et. al. 2011
- 6. • National fish Production- 86544 mt . - Aquaculture-65544 mt. - Capture fisheries: 21000mt. • Fastest growing primary food production sector (9.6% GR) • Aquaculture GR 14.54 • Capture fisheries GR - 0.59 • Employment • Capture fisheries: 462067 • Aquaculture: 122772 Fish Production and consumption Contribution to - AGDP contribution- 4.18 % - NGDP contribution- 1.13 %
- 7. Per capita Production: 3.01 kg - Per capita availability: 3.39 kg - Import – 10756 MT ( NRs. 2 billion) Fish Production and consumption (contd…)
- 8. Import and export Figure 2. Fish import trend in Nepal Table Fish and other Import Fresh Fish, mt 11220 Boneless Fish, mt 443 Dry Fish, mt 94 Fish seed Fry, No. 3781500 Fish seed eggs, No, 250000 Fish seed Ornamental, No. 271000 Fish feed Pellet, mt 2280 Bivalve, mt 650 Source: Central Livestock Quarantine Office, 2017
- 9. 3. Status of Fish Genetic Resources (FGR) Type Species diversity (No.) Percent of 236 species Ecological Region High hill 20 10.7 Hills, valleys 114 45.2 Terai 118 46.8 Species Richness* Gandaki River 201 79.76 Koshi River 194 76.98 Karnali River 139 55.16 Mahakali River 89 35.3 Status Number of species Common/ occasional 71 Insufficiently known 59 Vulnerable 11 Endangered 2 Rare 23 Total Indigenous fish species: 236 74 cold water 162 warm water
- 10. Unique underutilized FGR Food fishes : 23 Sport fishes :18 Ornamental fishes :42 FGR reared for domestication & breeding:15 Endemic species : 16 • FGR have diverse structural, behavioral (migrating behavior) and biological adaptation of academic importance
- 11. List of native fish species reared for domestication & breeding Local Name Scientific name 1. Sahar 2. Sahar 3. Katle 4. Buche Asala 5. Chuchhe Asala 6. Gardi 7. Hade 8. Thend 9. Lahare 10. Buduna 11. Baghi 12. Rewa 13. Jalkapur 14. Gonch Tor putitora Tor tor Acrossocheilus hexagonolepis Schizothorax plagiostomus Schizothoraichthys progastus Labeo dero Labeo pangusia Labeo angra Garra annandelai Garra gotyla Botia lohachata Changunius changunio Pseudeutropius murius Bagarius bagarius 15. Rajbam Anguilla bengalensis
- 12. b. Germplasm collection, characterization, evaluation, conservation and documentation • The most recent work is a compilation of 236 fishes in Nepal (Shrestha 2019). • Collection and identified 135 native fishes in the country is in the museum at GRD of (NARC). • Mitigation: Hatchery produced fish fingerlings released in the Kali Gandaki River for mitigation. • Initiation of genetic characterization of fish species for stock improvement: Schizothorax richardsonii, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala.
- 13. • Habitat Destruction • Illegal Fishing • Impact of exotic fishes – 42% loss of Mystus and Puntius by Chinese carps in Lake Begnas. • Introduction of Tilapia nilotica and T. mossambica • Unofficially introduced carnivorous fishes, Clarias gariepinus • Dam for hydropower and irrigation • Climate change 4. Challenges and opportunities
- 14. 5. Marketing, commercialization and trade
- 15. 5. Marketing, commercialization and trade………………
- 16. 5. Marketing, commercialization and trade Fish Marketing Problem • lack of all-weather roads. • absence of cold storage facilities/chilling rooms. • absence of insulated vehicles. • Mostly sold fresh fish • Live fish marketing initiating • traditionally dried, salted or smoked. • Value addition is in its infant stage • With financial support the production and marketing of value-added fishery products can be enhanced.
- 17. 6. Strategies adopted to harness potential of underutilized FGR • For conservation of fisheries resources, His Majesty’s Government (HMG) has formulated legal device “Aquatic Life Protection Act 2017”. • Fish hatchery in the bank of Kali Gandaki River for the propagation of indigenous fish has been established. • Breeding of 12 native fish species succeed in hatchery condition. • Fishery enhancement techniques (stocking, translocation) are increasingly used as conservation strategy • Establishment of fish sanctuaries: • Social mobilization • Live fish Gene Bank
- 18. 7. Major focus areas for underutilized FGR • Breeding technology of native fish. • Re-stocking program with these species in river to mitigate the effect of environmental alteration. • Gene pool conservation. • Studies on reproductive biology, diversity and socioeconomic connection of several FGR are being carried out by different agencies. • SIS and carp polyculture technology
- 19. 8. Infrastructure, capacity building and financial investment Figure 4. Budget allocation for fisheries sector under NARC in Nepal • lack of infrastructure for research and equipment; • lack of skilled manpower in fisheries management. • Lack of expertise in taxonomy. • There is lack of field staff on technology, data management, permitting and legislation. • Low budget allocation for fisheries sector.
- 20. 9. Case studies/success stories for improvement of health and livelihoods • SIS and carp polyculture technology for nutrition security • Stocking of hatchery produced 12 indigenous fishes KGFH for livlihood • Participatory fisheries management for livelihood improvement of fishers in Phewa Lake, Pokhara, Nepal.
- 21. Lake fisheries controlling lake Degradation (Phewa Lake) • The largest cooperative comprised of 740 families • Yield: 18.5 mt./yr to 70 mt./yr • Annual income 7 million NRs Source: Media
- 22. 10. Future thrust • Enforcement of legal instrument: Aquatic Animal Protection Act 2017 . • Surveying and Inventorying of FGR • In-situ conservation should include declaration of fish sanctuary/park in parts of river and lakes. • To control the discharge of harmful municipal and industrial wastes • To prohibits the use of explosive/poisonous substances • Rehabilitation of depleted fishes • Ex-situ conservation of FGR should be promoted by domestication and their inclusion in aquaculture setting. • Awareness Campaign on legal aspect of aquatic biodiversity conservation should be incorporated in fisheries program.
- 23. 11. Conclusion • The scope of ameliorating UFGR is wide. • Few species for cultivation, while rest are categorized as UFGR due to limited studies, scientific human resources, investment and related infrastructures. • Many of the UFG might disappear before realization of their importance and economic importance due to environmental degradation, climate change impact, damming and diversion of the streams and several other factors. • It is recommended that such UFGR should be conserved, studied, and ameliorated focusing on business model approaches especially to fight against poverty, hunger and malnutrition considering the advantage of life history traits of such fishes which might overcome problems associated with harsh environment and climate change.
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