Abstract

Author:
Sagar Khadka, Ram Bhajan Mandal, Prabesh Pandit, and Sukanya Pun

Doi: 10.26480/mahj.02.2025.68.74

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

A study was conducted to investigate the fish diversity and water quality parameters of the Marsyangdi River, addressing gaps in comprehensive research on its fish fauna. From November 2023 to June 2024, research was conducted across four permanent sites: Bhulbhule, Gairi, Bhotewodar, and Paudi, during both winter and summer seasons. Fish were captured using various nets, with detailed observations on species’ colors and ecological characteristics. Twenty three species of fish belonging to 5 orders, 6 families and 15 genera were recorded from the different sites. With 48% of the species, the most prevalent family was Cyprinidae, followed by Cobitidae (26%), Sisoridae (8.6%), and Channidae (8.6%) while Anguilidae and Synbranchidae each had only 4.3% of the species. Seasonal variations were significant, with only 17 species recorded in winter and 23 species recorded in summer. The study identified 14 least concerns, three near threatened, one common, one vulnerable, one endangered and one data deficient species across different sites. Higher fish catch (555 individuals) was recorded in Summer than in winter (391 individuals). Water quality assessments revealed seasonal differences, with higher dissolved oxygen levels in winter and warmer water temperatures in summer, while pH levels remained relatively stable throughout the two seasons. The findings underscored anthropogenic threats such as unlawful exploitation, habitat degradation, and dam development adversely affecting fish diversity in the Marsyangdi River. Recommendations included the urgent need for systematic monitoring of fish populations, documentation of catch data to substantiate trends, and the implementation of conservation measures.