Pankaj Kumar Srivastava | Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (original) (raw)

Papers by Pankaj Kumar Srivastava

Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 2013

Climate change is evident in India as manifested by increased air temperatures, regional variatio... more Climate change is evident in India as manifested by increased air temperatures, regional variation in the monsoon, frequent occurrence of droughts, and a regional increase in severe storm incidence in coastal states of India. The impacts are evident for freshwater fisheries and fishers of the River Ganga and the water bodies in its plains and deltaic areas. Analysis of time series data for 32 years from published literature and from current investigations showed a 0.99°C increase in the minimum water temperature recorded in the upper stretch of River Ganga and 0.5 to 1.4°C increases in aquaculture water on the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal. The minimum air temperature showed a 15% shift upwards during the colder months of January–February. Rainfall showed a 1% increase in the post monsoon months of September–December. The impacts were manifest in a geographic shift of warm water fish species such as Glossogobius giuris, Xenentodon cancila into the colder stretch of the River Ganga....

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2014

In recent years climate variability has threatened the sustainability of inland fisheries and dep... more In recent years climate variability has threatened the sustainability of inland fisheries and dependent fishers in India. Systematic methodology to assess the vulnerability of the fisheries sector to climate variability is currently not available. Towards this end, the present work deals with the assessment of inland fisheries vulnerability to climate variations in 13 districts of West Bengal state in India. For this purpose, a composite vulnerability index (0.0-1.0) has been developed on the basis of functional relationships amongst sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity using 19 indicators related to inland fisheries. The data obtained reflected different spatial combinations of climate exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity among the districts. Five districts were highly vulnerable which was attributable to low adaptive capacity of the fishers which played an important role in altering the spatial pattern of vulnerability among the districts. Thus our research will provided an important basis for policy makers to develop appropriate adaptation strategies to minimize the risk of fisheries sector to climate variability.

Journal of Wetlands Ecology, 2011

The study aimed at assessing the indigenous fishing methods adopted by the fishermen in Suraha La... more The study aimed at assessing the indigenous fishing methods adopted by the fishermen in Suraha Lake. Survey was conducted during August 2002 - July 2004. Information was collected through participatory rapid appraisal covering the entire lake and four fishermen villages viz Mairitar, Surajpura, Kaithauli and Basantpur. Study indicated that various types of local indigenous traditional fishing gears are used by fishers for commercial exploitation of the lake. Plank-built boats (Dingi) were used in the fishing. These boats are small and light and prepared locally by fishers. Gill net and cast net were the main gears and contributed more then 80% of the total fish catch of the lake. Indigenous fishing gears comprising gill nets, cast nets, traps, etc., have been discussed showing their modus operandi. Key words: Indigenous fishing methods; suraha lake DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jowe.v5i0.5156 J Wet Eco 2011 (5): 73-78

Our Nature, 1970

Present paper deals with the fish species richness of the Suraha Lake. The study was made during ... more Present paper deals with the fish species richness of the Suraha Lake. The study was made during August 2002-July 2004. In the course of investigation at three sampling spots Mairitar, Surajpura and Basantpur, 54 fish species were recorded under 7 orders and 20 families. Twentyone species of Cypriniformes, 12 species of Siluriformes, 3 species of Symbrachiformes, 13 species of Perciformes, 1 species of Tetradontiformes, 3 species of Clupeiformes and 1 species of Beloniformes have been recorded.Key words: Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, Suraha lake, fish species richnessDOI: 10.3126/on.v7i1.2573Our Nature (2009) 7:207-211

Our Nature, 2013

Study of 10 km stretch of Gandak River in Uttar Pradesh revealed the ichthyofaunal diversity, ass... more Study of 10 km stretch of Gandak River in Uttar Pradesh revealed the ichthyofaunal diversity, assemblage structure, distribution pattern, threat status, ornamental and commercially important fishes. In all 54 fish species were recorded of many commercially important fishes. Among these species 45% belong to lower risk near threatened (LRnt), 26% vulnerable (VU), 11% lower risk least concern (LRlc), 11% not evaluated (NE) and 7% endangered (EN) category. Cyprinidae 33% were most important followed by Bagridae (11%), Channidae (9%), Tetradontidae (5%). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v11i1.8246 Our Nature Vol.11(1) 2013: 76-84

Aquatic Living Resources

Environmental Biology of Fishes, Jan 18, 2018

Temperature and seasonal rainfall along with other environmental variables are important in regul... more Temperature and seasonal rainfall along with other environmental variables are important in regulating the reproductive cycles in teleost fishes. Certain environmental variables may act as cues for reproduction and changes in these may affect seasonality and success of reproduction, as fishes are known to integrate their physiological functions with environmental cycles. Wetlands are sensitive to climate change due to their shallow and confined nature. Since wetlands are important spawning and nursery grounds for many fishes, changes in the environmental variables may have direct consequences for the spawning and survival of fish. In the present study, we have assessed climatic and water chemistry variables capable of influencing seasonality in environmental variables as well as gonadal maturation of spotted snakehead Channa punctata, to predict threshold values of Gonado Somatic Index in females and a favourable range of identified climatic and water chemistry variables for breedin...

The concept of threshold condition factor (Fulton), beyond which more than 50% of the female fish... more The concept of threshold condition factor (Fulton), beyond which more than 50% of the female fish population may attain readiness for spawning coined as pre-spawning fitness (Kspawn50), has been proposed in the present article and has been estimated by applying the non-parametric Kaplan-Meier method for fitting survival function. A binary coding strategy of gonadal maturity stages was used to classify whether a female fish is “ready to spawn” or not. The proposed Kspawn50 has been generated for female Mystus tengara (1.13–1.21 units), M. cavasius (0.846–0.945 units), and Eutropiichthys vacha (0.716–0.799 units). Information on the range of egg parameters (fecundity, egg weight, egg diameter) expected at the pre-spawning stage was also generated. Additional information on species-specific thermal and precipitation window (climate preferendum) within which Kspawn50 is attained was also generated through the LOESS smoothing technique. Water temperatures between 31 and 36 °C (M. tengara...

Aquatic Living Resources, 2018

Reproductive biology of female amphidromous croaker Johnius coitor (Hamilton, 1822) was studied f... more Reproductive biology of female amphidromous croaker Johnius coitor (Hamilton, 1822) was studied for the first time from various freshwater stretches of Ganga river basin, India in relation to climatic variability. The species showed high spatial variation in reproductive phenology and capable of breeding during pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter. Water temperature is the most crucial environmental parameter influencing gonadal maturation and breeding. Generalized additive model (GAM) models revealed water temperature near 23–25 °C as optimum and threshold GSI above 3 units necessary for breeding. Pre-spawning fitness (Kspawn50) and size at 50% maturity (LM50) benchmarked through Kaplan-Meier survival fit estimates were in the range 1.27–1.37 units and 19–24.5 cm respectively. First maturity of females was encountered at 11.4 cm within the size range 7.2–28.5 cm. Egg parameters in mature-ripe females ranged between 0.29–0.80 mm (diameter), 0.05–0.19 mg (weight) and 5687–121 849 eggs (absolute fecundity). Mapping of climate preferendum through LOESS smoothing technique hinted water temperatures <20 °C and >32 °C to be detrimental for attainment of pre-spawning fitness while no dependence on rainfall was observed. Based on the climato-hydrological influence on breeding and regional trends of changing climate along river Ganga, we infer minimal climate driven changes in breeding phenology of this amphidromous fish species. Results of this study may serve as baseline information for future studies assessing climate driven changes and evolutionary adaptations in croakers from river Ganga.

Enhanced temperature is one of the most important drivers of climate change as evidenced by a per... more Enhanced temperature is one of the most important drivers of climate change as evidenced by a perceptible rise of air and water temperature in various regions ofIndia. Unit rise in water temperature affect the physiological features of freshwater fish in aquaculture. Investigations were conducted to assess the impact of increasing water temperature of 29°C, 30°e, 31°C, 32°e, 33°C, 34°e and 35°C on the growth, Labeo rohita fingerlings reared for five weeks in aquarium. The fishes were fed pelletised feed ad libitum. Fish reared at 34°C water temperature exhibited significantly (P<0.05) faster growth (SGR-2.36 % body weight per day) than those reared at other temperatures. The change in growth rates were insignificant between 29°C, 30°e, 31°C and 32°e treatment groups but growth rates significantly increased in the temperatures ranging from 32°C to 34°e and there after it decreased. A linear growth model of L. rohita fingerlings growth has been developed using the data generated. This simple growth model provided a reliable projection of growth (SGR %) with unit rise of temperature within the range of29°to 34°C. This will help fish culturists to develop adaptation strategies with regard to suitability of fish species and fish culture practices under the climate wam1ing scenarios.

The present communication assessed the impact of the changes in climatic variables, viz. temperat... more The present communication assessed the impact of the changes in climatic variables, viz. temperature and rainfall on the spawning of Indian Major Carps (IMC) in the river Mahanadi, in the fish hatcheries in its plains and on the fishers' income in five districts of Odisha. The average minimum and maximum temperature throughout the state has increased in the range of 0.1 °C to 0.9 ºC. The annual rainfall in Cuttack and Puri districts have increased by 27.78 mm and 13.20 mm respectively and decreased by 18.73 mm, 16.25 mm, 7.4 mm, 86.88 mm and 11.25 mm in Angul, Balasore, Khurda, Sambalpur and Bolangir districts, respectively during 1981-2010. The fish spawn availability has decreased drastically in river Mahanadi in three decades from 30-43 ml net -1 day -1 to the present level of 6 ml net -1 day -1 . The study revealed that the onset of the breeding period of the Indian major carps has advanced by one month in the hatcheries, compared to the previous two decades. The advancement in breeding period of IMC in the fish seed hatcheries in Balasore, Khordha, Puri and Mayurbhanj districts can be attributed primarily to the effect of increased water temperature and shifting of the rainfall pattern facilitating early maturation and spawning. The respondents in the fish seed hatcheries surveyed also perceived temperature and rainfall as the most important factors responsible for advancement of the onset of breeding of IMC.

In recent years the maturing and breeding of Indian major carps viz., C. catla, L. rohita and C. ... more In recent years the maturing and breeding of Indian major carps viz., C. catla, L. rohita and C. mrigala in the month of March was observed in fish hatcheries of West Bengal. Investigation was conducted to ascertain the impact of climate change as evident by enhanced temperature on the breeding of Indian major carps and on the fishers in general in 50 fish hatcheries in four districts (Burdwan, Bankura, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas) of West Bengal. The mean minimum and maximum air temperature increased in the range of 0.19 ºC -0.67 ºC and 0.09 ºC -0.37 ºC in all the four districts during 1985 to 2006. During the time scale period 1951-1952 to 1996-2005 the air temperature in the four districts showed increase of 4.4 ºC between the months of December to April. This frequent occurrence of 4.4 ºC showed a percentage shift towards January over the years in all the districts. The mean maximum and minimum water temperatures during the breeding season (March-September) also increased by 1.66ºC and 0.31ºC respectively during the same period in North 24 Parganas district. Consequently the breeding period of the major carps have advanced in all the four districts by 1-2 months since last twenty years. Structured questionnaire response of hatchery operatives from 50 hatcheries also indicated temperature rise as a major factor (90-95%) for the advanced breeding of Indian major carps.

The study aimed at assessing the indigenous fishing methods adopted by the fishermen in Suraha La... more The study aimed at assessing the indigenous fishing methods adopted by the fishermen in Suraha Lake. Survey was conducted during August 2002 -July 2004. Information was collected through participatory rapid appraisal covering the entire lake and four fishermen villages viz Mairitar, Surajpura, Kaithauli and Basantpur. Study indicated that various types of local indigenous traditional fishing gears are used by fishers for commercial exploitation of the lake. Plank-built boats (Dingi) were used in the fishing. These boats are small and light and prepared locally by fishers. Gill net and cast net were the main gears and contributed more then 80% of the total fish catch of the lake. Indigenous fishing gears comprising gill nets, cast nets, traps, etc., have been discussed showing their modus operandi.

Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 2013

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2014

Journal of Wetlands Ecology, 2011

Our Nature, 1970

Our Nature, 2013

Aquatic Living Resources

Environmental Biology of Fishes, Jan 18, 2018

Aquatic Living Resources, 2018

The study aimed at assessing the indigenous fishing methods adopted by the fishermen in Suraha La... more The study aimed at assessing the indigenous fishing methods adopted by the fishermen in Suraha Lake. Survey was conducted during August 2002 -July 2004. Information was collected through participatory rapid appraisal covering the entire lake and four fishermen villages viz Mairitar, Surajpura, Kaithauli and Basantpur. Study indicated that various types of local indigenous traditional fishing gears are used by fishers for commercial exploitation of the lake. Plank-built boats (Dingi) were used in the fishing. These boats are small and light and prepared locally by fishers. Gill net and cast net were the main gears and contributed more then 80% of the total fish catch of the lake. Indigenous fishing gears comprising gill nets, cast nets, traps, etc., have been discussed showing their modus operandi.