Protecting Assam’s water bodies from invasive species

Reports of the presence of an invasive fish species in the Bahini River in Guwahati’s Basistha area have pressed the alarm bell on the threat to the aquatic ecosystem in the state due to the illegal release of invasive species. Strong deterrent actions are needed to curb such illegal activities. Experts have warned that the invasive species could significantly harm the local aquatic diversity as it eats smaller fish and larvae to survive. The Fishery Department seeking assistance from law enforcement agencies in investigating if the invasive species were illegally released in the river by any aquarium hobbyist is essential to get to the bottom of it. Different varieties of fish species smuggled into the Northeast region from Myanmar and Bangladesh and being sold in fish markets and Guwahati is a cause of concern. Failure of the Fishery Department to carry out effective surveillance against illegal fish trade in the state is also leading to the illegal release of invasive species in the rivers and water bodies of the state, which cannot be ruled out. The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) underscores the importance of the management of invasive alien species to protect local biodiversity. The increase in several invasive and alien species in the country speaks volumes about the wide gap between plan and action on the ground. The Zoological Survey of India listed more than 150 animal species, including 19 freshwater fishes, as invasive species. The issue also brings into focus the importance of the compilation and updating of the People’s Biodiversity Register to document existing local biodiversity and use the inventory to undertake required conservation efforts. For Indigenous communities, the survival and extinction of local species in their traditional habitat is a key indicator of impending climate challenges, based on which they develop traditional knowledge for sustainable co-existence with nature. If the increase in the population of invasive species leads to the extinction of local biodiversity, it also seriously affects the process of developing a traditional knowledge system. Experts are trying to find sustainable solutions to some of the climate crises from the traditional knowledge systems, which necessitate prioritising the conservation of each ecosystem and local biodiversity. Commercial cultivation of local fish is essential to protect the traditional livelihood of fishermen’s fisherfolk communities in the state and to meet the demand-supply gap. Surveillance against illegal practices of smuggling live fish varieties from neighbouring countries and selling them as local varieties is essential to prevent commercial cultivation of local fish varieties from becoming unsustainable on account of the introduction of some of these invasive species of the same genus in water bodies in the state for commercial production. Consumers can play a crucial role in detecting and reporting fish species smuggled and illegally sold in local markets so that the authorities can initiate strong punitive action against such unscrupulous traders. The fish smuggling network being active in the state came to light in October last year with the recovery of 31 live specimens of critically endangered Channa Barca fish, locally known as Pipli Cheng and Cheng Garaka, at Guwahati railway station in an operation jointly carried out by the Assam Forest Department, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and the Government Railway Police when these were smuggled out from Orang National Park to West Bengal. The smuggling of local fish species and the presence of invasive species in local water bodies point towards multiple extinction threats to local fish varieties in the state, which need to be urgently addressed by the authorities concerned. Building awareness among aquarium hobbyists about the threat posed by the illegal release of alien and invasive fish species in local water bodies after they become too large for their aquariums needs a stronger policy push. The Fishery Department putting in place an oversight mechanism is important to ensure that the license issued to aquarium traders by the Animal Welfare Board of India is not abused by anyone to harm local fish species. There is a standing guideline for the import of ornamental fishes into India, but not all aquarium hobbyists are aware of this to find out if any trader is selling prohibited invasive species to them. Sadly, due to poor awareness among hobbyists, some of the invasive fish and turtle species are now found in local water bodies in different states. The Fishery Department roping in the Assam State Biodiversity Board and local educational institutions will help it undertake much-needed extensive surveys to detect such invasive species in water bodies in the state before it is too late. Such an extensive operation will also go a long way in generating awareness among aquarium hobbyists on the pitfalls of releasing aquarium fish into local water bodies and alerting fishermen folk communities to report any such illegal release of invasive species to the Fishery Department. The government can consider extending producer responsibility to aquarium fish breeders for the safe disposal of ornamental fishes by hobbyists. It is high time the state government took strong preventive measures to curb the spread of invasive fish species in the water bodies of the state.