L-6

L-6
Major
MajorRiver
RiverSystems
Systemsof ofIndia
India
Topographical
Topographicalfeatures,
features,
Fish
FishFaunastic
FaunasticDiversity
Diversity
&&
Fisheries
Fisheries

Himalayan
HimalayanRS:
RS: Ganga,
Ganga,Brahmaputra
Brahmaputra&&Indus
Indus
&&
Southern
SouthernRS:
RS:PECRS
PECRS&&PWCRS
PWCRS
 Indian River Systems
{At a Glance}
River system of country’s comprises of-
14 major rivers (catchments>20,000km2)
44 medium rivers (catchments 2,000 to 20,000km2)
Combined linear length of all rivers= 29,000km
Total surface water runoff= 167.23 mhm
Fish-faunastic diversity comprises of 930
species belonging to 326 genera accordingly India
stands 9th in world for reference
freshwater mega-fish- diversity

The Ganga and the Brahmaputra river systems-

Combined linear length= 16,523km (36.72% of total)
Drainage basin area 1.0million km2 & 0.9million km2 respectively
Total water discharge= 19,000m3 / second
Number of River
systems-

The Northern /
Himalayan river
systems (Ganga,
Brahmaputra &
Indus)

The Southern /
Peninsular river
systems (PECRS &
PWCRS)
Topographical features of drainage & basin
The profile of various river system of India
Potential yield of Indian rivers based on their
length & basin area
Ganga
River
System
 At Haridwar

• Ganges (Ganga)- The Ganges at Haridwar

• Countries- India, Bangladesh
• Major cities- Haridwar, Moradabad, Rampur, Kanpur, Allahabad,
Varanasi, Patna
• Length- 2,510 km (1,560 mi)
• Watershed- 907,000 km² (350,195 mi²)
• Discharge at mouth - average14,270 m³/s (503,940 ft³/s)
• Source- Gangotri Glacier 
• Location- Uttarakhand, India 
• Coordinates- 30°59′N 78°55′E 
• Elevation- 7,756 m (25,446 ft)
• Mouth- Ganges Delta 
• Location- Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh 
• Coordinates-22°05′N 90°50′E 
• Elevation- 0 m (0 ft)
• Major tributaries- (Left): Brahmaputra, Gomti, Kosi, Gandak,
Ghaghra (Riight): Yamuna, Son
 The Ganga River System
{Topography, Fish Fauna & Fisheries}
Topographical Features-
i. One of the largest RS of the world having combined linear length=
12,500km
ii. Catchment area= 9.71 lakh km2
iii. It drains Southern slope of central Himalayas covering states of UP,
Bihar, MP, Rajasthan & W. Bengal
iv. Originates at MSL 3129m (Bhagirathi) from Gangotri and joins
Alakhnanda at Deoprayag
v. After covering 220km in mountains, enters n plain at Haridwar
vi. Its tidal confluence/ deltic region is about 320km
vii. Its tributaries are-
At left flank: Koshi, Gandak, Ramganga & Gomati
At right flank: Yamuna with its tributaries (Chambal, Betwa & Ken), Tons
and Sone
Pattern of Primary Producers & Consumers Production
and Productivity-
Plankton production in general shows ‘Bimodal’ pattern
of production.
1st peak falls in June
2nd peak falls during December to March
Minimum production during July to October
Dominant group of Phytoplankton: Belonging to families-
Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, & Myxophyceae.
Dominant group of Zooplankton: Belonging category of
Rotifers- Brachionus, Conochilus, Trochosphaera etc.
In general, the Ganga is more productive above rather than
the zone below its confluence with the Yamuna.
Peak of benthic fauna production happens in June and
minimum during August to September / January to February.
Ecological Zonation of the Ganga-
3-Zones: Sluggish, Aggressive & Recovery
i. Sluggish Zone (Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi):
Slow current, bottom with muddy-mixed fine sand
& conducive for insect production.
ii. Aggressive Zone (Balia-Patna): Water current
very fast & unproductive for insect production.
iii. Recovery Zone (Bhagalpur-Rajmahal): Slow
current, bottom with fine sand & black muddy
patches, good for production of insects,
gastropods, annelids…
Fish-faunastic Diversity & Fisheries-
The Ganaga RS harbors 265 fish species belonging to 36
families, out of which 34 species are of commercial
importance including prized Gangetic carps, large
catfishes, featherbacks and murrels.
The mainstay of fisheries are the species belonging to
cyprinids (carps-176 species) & silurids (catfishes).
Species Distribution Pattern:
i. In Head Water Stretch: Schizothorax, Acrossocheilus, Tor (putitora / tor),
Labeo (dyocheilus / dero / gonius), Pangasius pangasius species etc.
ii. In Plain Stretch:
Major Carps- Catla catla, Labeo rohita Cirrhinus mrigala
Minor Carps- Labeo (calbasu / bata), Cirrhinus (reba / bacaila)
Catfish: Wallogo attu, Mystus aor, Mystus seenghala, Mystus vittatus
Pangasius pangasius, Bagarius bagarius, Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes
fossilis, Ompak (pabda / bimaculatus)…
Clupeids: Hilsa ilisha & Hilsa filigera
Miscellaneous: Notopterus species, Gudasia chapra, Setipinna phasa,
Mastecembelus species… and freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium
malcomsonii)
Relative distribution of Gangetic carps in different stretches
of the Ganga-
i. Cirrhinus mrigala: It is the most dominant
species of the Ganga in its upper stretch from
Kanpur down to Allahabad and also in the
Yamuna.
ii. Catla catla: It is moderately distributed in
complete plain stretch of the Ganga having its
moderate catch at all landing centres.
iii. Labeo rohita: More like mrigal, abundant in
upper and lower stretc and less impotant in
middle stretch.
Hilsa ilisha: Being true anadromous migratory
fish, before development of Farakka in 1975,
476km away from the estuarine mouth of Ganga,
its significant catch was on record upto Kanpur
which is now –Nil-.
Estimated mean annual landings (metric tons) at
different centers of the Ganga: Commercial fisheries
exists in the middle stretch ranging from Kanpur to Farakka:
1,005km.
Group-wise fish yield at Allahabad landing
centre of Ganga

S. Fish Group Catch (kg / ha)

No.
1961-70 1981-90

i. Major carps 21.25 9.95

ii. Catfish 10.11 5.07
iii. Hilsa ilisha 4.86 -Nil-
iv. Miscl. fishes 10.59 13.58
Brahmaputra
Brahmaputra

River
River

System
System
 The Brahmaputra River System
{Topography, Fish Fauna & Fisheries}
Topographical Features-
i. Originates from a great glacier mass near Mansarower lake in Tibet
at MSL 3600m, flowing eastward and thereafter westward passing
through Arunachal Pradesh for 160km enters the valley of Assam
above Sadiya.
ii. Last flowing for 480km in Bangladesh it joins Ganga at Goalando
forming a common river Padma (Width= 9.6km) meets in Bay of
Bengal through a Great Meghana estuary.
iii. Thus it drains the northern slope of central and eastern Himalayas.
iv. Combined linear length of RS= 4023km, Brahmaputra alone=
2900km.
v. Catchment area= 51 million ha and water runoff= 38 mhm.
Note: Topographically Brahmaputra valley is interspersed with abandoned
beds of river which are subjected to annual inundation resulting
development of wetlands considerably in the districts of Lakhimpur,
Nowgong, North Kamrup and Goalpara.
Pattern of Primary Producers &
Consumers Production and Productivity-
Through out its stretch rich in inorganic
contents (Phosphates, Nitrates, Silicates &
Iron).
 Zooplanktons dominate in upper reach
(Brachionus, Cyclops, Daphinia & copepods
nauplii).
Phytoplanktons dominate in lower reach
(Spirogyra, Ulothrix & Oscillataria)
In general, phytoplanktons dominate over
zooplanktons
Fish-faunastic Diversity & Fisheries
The Brahmaputra RS harbors 126 fish species belonging to 26
families, out of which 41 species are of commercial
importance.
Over all fish faunastic diversity similar to Ganga RS.
Upper sector of the river is not having commercial fishery of any
significance. This segment harbours coldwater fishes (T. mosal, T.
tor, T. putitora, T. progenius, Neolissochelus hexagonolepis and catfish
B. bagarius…).
The commercial fishery is dominated by catfishes.
Miscellaneous group of fishes also contribute significantly to total
catch.

S. Stretch Fish Catch Trends (%)

No. Major Minor Catfish Miscl. Hilsa Prawns
carps carps

i. Upper 17.46 - 28.40 54.14 - -

ii. Middle 16.00 - 28.00 - 18. 00 4-7
iii. Lower 11.00 20.00 24.00 34.00 7.00 -
Common estuarine reaches of Ganga &
Brahmaputra-
i. Deltic region confluence is 320km being common and
constitutes a zone dynamic interaction between
freshwater and tidal (marine) water thus maintaining
high level of productivity.
ii. The lateral expansion of the alluvial soil deposits and
the break-up of the main channel into number of
distributaries, and tidal creeks impart the terminal part
of rivers having deltas with its sea-ward face fringed
with coastal mangroves.
Potamic Reaches of both rivers-
i. Present streams of high ecological order and are
subjected to force of erosion (in upper reaches) and
deposition in the lower reaches.
ii. The channels in potamic zone of Ganga RS is
meandering type whereas in Brahmaputra it is of
braided type.
Indus
Indus

River
River

System
System
 The Indus River System
Topographical Features-
The major portion of Indus river system lies within Pakistan but its 5
tributaries, viz. Jhelum, Chinab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej originate
from the Western Himalayas.
Fish Fauna & Fisheries-
i. In headwaters of these rivers, commercial fisheries are absent.
ii. The common fish species inhabiting are Salmo trutta faria, Oncorhynchus
mykiss, Tor tor; T. putitora, Schizothorax spp., Labeo dero, Gara gotyla,
Botia spp. and Nemacheilus spp.
iii. The Beas and Sutlej contain indigenous carps and catfishes akin to the
Ganga River.
iv. The Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir is reported to support commercial
fisheries. The species caught are Schizothorax spp., Labeo dero, L.
dyocheilus, Crossocheilus latius, Puntius conchonius, Cyprinus carpio (C.
carpio communis and C. carpio speclllaris), loaches and Glyptothorax spp.
Note-
Beas and Satluj soecially harbor rainbow & brown trouts in upper reaches.
The trout streams of Kashmir constitute one of the world’s richest sport fishing waters
attracting anglers and tourists from all over the world.
Exotic C. carpio (communis & specularis) contribute significantly to comercial catch.
Landing of snow trouts and Schizothorax sps ranges from 70-80%.
Peninsular East Coast River System
Mahanadi
Godavari
Krishna
Cauvery
 PECRS at a Glance
• Combined linear length= 6,437km with a total
catchment area of 121 million ha
• It drains the entire peninsular India including-
East of Western Ghats in the West & Southern
parts of central India
• Mahanadi has its own major carp species
common with Gangetic carps
• Other rivers have carp species but not the
Gangetic carps which have been transplnted
• Tributaries of Cauvery originating from Niligiri
hillsharbour coldwater fish like trout & tench
 Mahanadi River System
 The upper reaches harbor game fishes but
commercial fishery is non-existent due to
inaccessible terrain.
 The ichthyofauna is similar to that of the Ganga
river with addition of peninsular species.
 Hilsa is confined to lower reaches and together
with major carps and catfishes forms lucrative
fishery.
 Data on fish production and catch per unit effort
(CPUE) is not available.
 Serves as important source of natural spawn
collection of hill-stream fish who harbor in it
from its source of origin up to Hirakud reservoir
in Sambhalpur district of Orissa.
 Godavari River System
Topographical Features-
 Godavari originates in Deolali hills near Nasik in the
Northern Western Ghats having tidal limits below
Rajahmundry in A.P. meeting in Bay Bengal.
 Linear length= 1440km and catchment area= 315980Km2.
 Having 2-large ‘Weirs’: 1st at Dowlaiswaram for irrigation &
navigation and 2nd at Dummagudem for navigation only.
 In general wetlands (Jheels / Bheels/ Ox-bow lakes) do not
exist in rivers of Deccan plateau and under this RS also.
 Stretch of 189km between Dowlaiswaram to Dummagudem
fetches commercial fishery being only of its plain zone.
 This plain stretch has been divided into 3-zones for fisheries
point of view
I- Dowlaiswaram to Pattiseema (33.6km)
II- Polavaram to Jidiguppa (59.2km)
III- Kunavaram to Dummagudem (96.2km)
Fish Fauna-
Carps: Catla catla, C. Mrigala, L. fimbriatus (+) & L. calbasu
Catfish: M. seenghal, M. aor, Silonia childreni, W. attu, P.
pangasius & B. bagarius
Hilsa ilisha
Miscellaneous: Comprising less than 0.5% individually in
total catch at any time
Prawn: Macrobrachium malcolmsonii
Fisheries-
The headwater harbours a variety of game fishes but do
not support commercial fishery. It has been observed
that during 1990 the river was maintaining a fish
production of 1 tonne/km/annum.
However, the commercial fisheries consist of carps
(major carps and L.fimbriatus), large catfishes (Mystus
spp., Wallago attu, Silonia childreni and B. bagarius)
and freshwater prawn (M. malcolmosonii).
Relative Trend of Gears to be used in 3-Zones:
Basically of 2-types-
I. Gill-Nets {Set, drift, drag (Bendu vala) & barrier
(Katu vala)}: Catch by these gears contributes to
33.9& of fishing efforts in all3-zones and
accordingly constitutes 12.7% of total fish
yield.Use of drag gill-nets are confined to zone-III.
II. Seine-Nets {Shore (Jarugu vala), large (Alivi vala)
& drag (Konte vala):
In zone I & II large sheine-nets are used for the catch of
carps and catfishes.
 In zone II & III shore sheine-nets are used for the catch
of miscellaneous group of fishes and also prawns.
Relative catch by using different gears
L. fimbriatus: Most abundant in all 3-zones.
C. mrigala: It is a transplanted species and more
abundant in zone I & II than III.
C. catla: Ctach is of low magnitute in all 3-zones.
M. seenghala: Most abundant among all catfish
and equal catch from all 3-zones.
Hilsa ilisha: Has moderate catch from all 3-zones.
M. malcolmsonii: It is only prawn species present
and has moderate catch from all 3-zones.
 Krishna River System
Topographical Features, Fish-Fisheries-
 It originates from Western Ghats range in south of Poona
and meeting in Bay of Bengal.
 Linear length= 1120km and catchment area= 233229Km2.
 Having 2-tributaries-
1. Bhima: Meeting on northern flank in Karnataka, being a seasonal
river
2. Tungbhadra: Meeting on southern flank, being a perennial river
having more water volume and flow than Krishna
Note:
1. Physico-chemical characteristics of Godavari &
Krishna are similar as both have common origin from
major terrain of Deccan Plateau and accordingly they
have common fish faunastic diversity.
2. Several dams have been constructed on this river,
which have altered the ecology of this river.
 Cauvery River System
Topographical Features-
 It is largest perennial river in south of the Krishna
and originates from Brahmagiri hills on Western
Ghats at MSL 1340m.
 Meeting in Bay of Bengal flowing south-
easternally in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
 Largest masonry dam is Mettur (T. Nadu).
 In Thanjavur delta it has been divided into two
distributaries-
1. Northern branch (Coleroon): Having lower Anicut
2. Southern branch (Cauvery proper): Having upper &
Grand Anicuts
Fish Fauna-
Carps: Acrossocheilus hexagonolepis, T. putitora,T.
khudree & T. mussullh, Barbus carnaticus, Barbus
dubius, L. kontius & L. ariza, Ci. Cirrhosa,
Osteochilus brevedorsalis & O. nashi…
Catfish: M. seenghal, M. aor, S. silonia & S.
childrenii, W. attu, P. pangasius & Glyptothorax
madraspatanum…
Murrel: Channa marulius
Featherback: Notopterus notopterus
Transplanted Species: Gangetic carps and
exotics: C. carpio species & Osphronemus goramy
Fisheries Trend-
 The water resource of the river is extensively
exploited as numerous reservoirs, anicuts and
barrages have been built on the river.
 The game fishes like Tor khudree and T.
mussullah are found all along length of the river
except the deltaic stretch.
 The commercial fisheries comprise carps (Tor
spp., Barbus carnaticus, B. dubius,
Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis, Puntius
pulchellus, Labeo kontius) and catfishes
Glyptothorax madraspatanum, Mystus spp., P.
pangasius, W. attu, S. childreni and Silurus
wynaadensis).
Peninsular WestCoast River System
{Narmada & Tapti}
 PWCRS at a Glance
Combined linear length= 3,380km
It drains the Narrow belt of Peninsular India (West of Western Ghats)

Narmada River System

Topographical Features-
 It originates from Amarkantak hills in Bilaspur district of M.P. at
MSL 1,057m from a pond and last flowing through Gujarat falls in
Arabian Sea through ‘Gulf of Cambay / Khambhat’.
 Total linear length of 1312km covering 3-states: 1o77km (M.P.), 75
(Maharasthra) & 160km (Gujarat)
 Maximum of total catchment (94,235km2) area lying in jurisdiction
of M.P & Gujarat.
 As the river having massive drop during its long course of flowing,
it has provided better opportunity for dam and barrage
constructions.
 Narmada has 41 principal tributaries of which longest one is
TAWA.
 Besides 50 rivulets also join it.
Fish-Fauna: Narmada river harbours 84 fish species
belopging to 23 genera of 23 species are of commercial
importance.
S. Category No. of Species Catch Trend
No. (commercial
importance)

1 Carps 10 (57-64%) Mahseer 23-27%, Labeo fimbriatus 18-

19%, L. calbasu 5-6%...

2 Catfishes 08 (24-38%) Rita pavimentata 12-14%, M. seenghala,

8-10%, M. aor 4-5%, Wallago attu 7-
8%, M. cavasius 1%...

3 Murrels 02 (3-4%) C. marulius (2%) & C. stiatus (1%)

4 Featherbac 01 (1-2%) N. notopterus
k

5 Spiny Eels 02 (2-3%) M. armatus & M. pancalus

 Tapti River System
Topographical Features-
 It originates from Mount Vindhya of
Satpura range at MSL 670-1000m.
 Last flowing west ward through M.P.,
Maharasthra & Gujarat falls in Arabian
Sea through ‘Gulf of Cambay / Khambhat’.
 Catchment 48,000km2
Fish-Fauna-
In general similar to Narmada river system.
Harboring more number of Labeo species (fimbriatus,
boggut, calbasu, bata…).
Fisheries Trend-
 Seasonal fishing (Sept. – June), extensive fishing after
January-February.
 The commercial fishery mainly consists of Tor tor, Labeo
fimbriatus, L. boggut and L. calbasu among carps followed
by catfishes such as Mystus spp. and W. attu.
 Commonly used gears (cast-net, gill-net & long-lines) for
catch of t.to, L. (fimbriatus, calbasu, bata, boggut), M.
(seenghala & aor), W. attu…
 In winter ‘Cheer’ fishing for the same species.
 Significant catch composition: T. tor (21-60%) followed by
M. seenghala (19-44%).
 In its lower reaches Hilsa ilisha forms lucrative fishing in the
vicinity of Surat and down stream.