Status of fishery, its management and scope for enhancement in a Terai wetland of Uttar Pradesh, India

Ramiyabehad wetland, situated in terai region of Lakhimpur-Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh, was studied for its piscine diversity, composition of major fishery groups and its management issues during 2005-07. It is located on Ghaghra river basin and receives floodwater from the catchments. It spreads over 248.0 ha water area. 21 fish species were recorded from the wetland. Average fish catch composition comprised Indian major carp (45.50 %), catfishes (22.0 %) and miscellaneous group (32.5 %). The wetland is well known for its Labeo rohita because of its special flavour and taste. Besides this, the other commercial species encountered were Labeo gonius, Wallago attu, Channa marulius and Notopterus notopterus. Catch sizes of Labeo rohita, Wallago attu and Channa marulius ranged from 2.0-5.0 kg, 0.5-3.0 kg and 0.2-2.5 kg, respectively. The fishing operations were conducted by the society members for 150-200 days in a year. Fish yields from the wetland were 21.0 kg/ha/yr in 2005-06 and 29.62 kg/ha/yr in 2006-07. There is a possibility of significant enhancement in fish yield from the wetland by converting it from capture to culture based capture fishery resource through appropriate management interventions.