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River Sanctuaries: Worshipping Endangered Fish.. and Rivers!

Parineeta Dandekar,Himanshu

Thakkar

South Asia Network on

Dams, Rivers and People

(SANDRP)

27th January 2015, Global Conference on Inland

Fisheries, FAO

• India has a blind spot when it comes toprotecting freshwater fish or rivers

• Although we have 158 (and counting)threatened freshwater fish species in our rivers,the Wildlife (Protection) Act includes none in itsschedule of protected species

• We have next to none riverine protected areasand the incidental protection rivers get is onlywhen they pass through terrestrial protectedareas, where too their flows are severelytampered with by upstream and downstreamdams

• In such a scenario, India also has rare gems ofcommunity protection which cut acrossgeographical boundaries, religions andcastes..the Riverine Fish Sanctuaries!

• More than 50 community conserved fishsanctuaries thrive along India’s rivers, protectingits rich freshwater fish diversity as well as therivers.

• Fishing and pollution is strictly prohibited in thesestretches.

• Devotees feed and worship fish, especially theendangered Mahseer (Tor tor, Tor putitora)

• These sanctuaries remain an important bastion forthe threatened Tor species

• Around 30 such sanctuaries are present in WesternGhats Complex which itself has extremely highendemism(67%)

• Eastern Peninsula also has fish sanctuary onMahanadi River

• Fish Sanctuaries are common in Uttarakhand,protecting Golden Mahseer ( Tor putitora)

Yenekal Fish Sanctuary, Netravathi Basin, Karnataka. Thrreatened by a series of Mini Hydel Projects Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Nakur Gaya Fish Sanctuary, Netravathi Basin, Karnataka. Thrreatened by a series of Mini Hydel Projects Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Fish Sanctuary near Hosmata, Netravathi Basin, Karnataka. Thrreatened by Kukke Mini Hydel Project Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Shringeri Fish Sanctuary on Tunga River, Karnataka Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Chippalgudde Fish Sanctuary, Karnataka. Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Walen Kondh Fish Sanctuary, Savitri River, Maharashtra. Threatened by 2 Mini Hydel Projects in the upstream: Kal and KumbhiPhoto: Parineeta Dandekar

Tilase Fish Sanctuary, Vaitrana River, Maharashtra. Threatened by 2 dams: one in upstream and one in downstreamPhoto: Parineeta Dandekar

Tilase Fish Sanctuary, Vaitrana River, Maharashtra. Threatened by 2 dams: one in upstream and one in downstreamPhoto: Parineeta Dandekar

Golden Mahseer at Laxman Jhula, Haridwar Ganga in Uttarakhand Photo: Wikipedia

Golden Mahseer of Gomti River, Baijnath, Uttarakhand. Thrreatened by hydropower projects in the upstream Ganga Photo: MalavikaChauhan

Mahseer of the Mahanadi River, Huma Temple Photo: Wikimedia

• In Meghalaya, Community Conserved Areas protectingfish and rivers have been existing as a traditional practice

• About 40 years ago, Amlayee River Fish Sanctuary wascreated by a local visionary named Lyngoh. Fishing isbanned and Mahseer here swim with children!

• Along with Tor Putitora, Chocolate Mahseer(Neolissocheilus hexagonalepis) is protected inMeghalaya Sanctuaries.

• Sanctuaries like Chiphot bibra, Rabdikwari,Miteramabata, Maktrakigol, Degasia, Mandrang wari,Ringpleng wari, Kalbong, Dinran wari, Rongguang andJakpigok

• Most of these systems are a part of the Umngot RiverSystem which is now threatened with 240 MW UmngotHydropower Dam.

• Village Durbars want formal protection for their fishsanctuaries.

Bansamgre Fish Sanctuary (West GaroHills District Photo: Meghalaya Fisheries Department

Amlayee Mahseer Fish Sanctuary, Nongbareh (West Jaintia Hills District) Photo: Photo: Meghalaya Fisheries Department

Amlayee Mahseer Sanctuary Photo: Photo: Meghalaya Fisheries Department

• Several such sanctuaries have dried up or submerged due to dams or killed due to pollution

• The communities who nurtured these sanctuaries play no role in decision-making when dams destroy these places.

• EIAs of dams do not even mention their existence! ( Middle Vaitarna, Kukke Mini Hydel, Umngot HEP, Uttarakhand dams)

• Fisheries Departments are least concerned with these.

• They receive no formal protection, no protection from international bodies or conventions like CBD.

• These communities are the true custodians of riverine conservation.

• Time to acknowledge and respect these efforts and provide flexible protection to these rivers…and their magical fish!

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