Abstract
Bangladesh is endowed with diverse rivers providing huge ecosystem services, but the diversity status and the abundance of the small indigenous species (SIS) are not identical in all rivers due to the natural water flow regime and anthropogenic challenges. Therefore, the present study endeavors to elucidate the composition and conservation status of SIS fish from four rivers namely, the Padma, the Gorai, the Chandana and the Horai rivers of Rajbari District, Bangladesh. Data were meticulously collected through fish sampling in each season, field observations, focus group discussions, and individual interviews by using a semi-structured questionnaire spanning from May 2021 and April 2022. The number of SIS in the Padma, the Gorai, the Chandana and the Horai rivers of Rajbari were 60, 36, 33 and 26, respectively, whereas a predominant concentration of fishes was notably observed in the benthopelagic zone of these rivers. Among the 60 riverine SIS, 23 fish were common in the four rivers. Additionally, Cyprinidae (>30%) was observed to be the most abundant SIS in the studied rivers. The fishermen in the research area used seven major fishing equipment of which cast nets are the most common for catching fish species. The abundance of SIS during the rainy season was the highest for all the studied rivers than the other seasons and 12 SIS were available throughout the year. Notably, the least concerned SIS outnumbered the other categories whereas, more than 10% was under the vulnerable category in the four rivers. The leading threats to the fish diversity were pollution followed by illegal and overfishing, siltation, reduced depth, degeneration of rivers and others. Consequently, to safeguard the existing SIS, reducing human pressure, implementing fishing regulations strictly, establishing and administering fish sanctuaries, and raising public awareness can be helpful for the sustainability of aquatic resources in deltaic areas.