Characterization of artisanal fisheries in Nepal and potential implications for the conservation and management of Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Author and article information
Abstract
The Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) (GRD) is classified as one of the most endangered of all cetaceans in the world and the second scarcest freshwater cetacean. The population is estimated to be less than 2,000 individuals. In Nepal’s Narayani, Sapta Koshi, and Karnali river systems, survival of GRD continues to be threatened by various anthropogenic activities, such as dam construction and interactions with artisanal fisheries. A basic description of the geographic scope, economics, and types of gear used in these fisheries would help managers understand the fishery-dolphin interaction conflict and assist with developing potential solutions to reduce interactions between GRD and local fisheries in Nepal. The main purpose of the study was to collect fishery and socio-economic information by conducting interviews with local fishermen in the Narayani, Sapta Koshi, and Karnali river systems. Based on interviews (n = 163), 79 percent of Nepalese fishermen indicated fishing for local species (e.g., mullet [Rhinomugil corsula] or siloroid catfish [Bagarius bagarius]) was their primary form of income. Fishermen reported fishing effort was greater in summer than winter; greatest in the afternoon (1430 hrs ± 0.27) and during low water level conditions; and gear was set 4.8 ± 0.2 days/week. Fishermen reported using eight different types of monofilament nets (gillnets and cast nets). Sixty percent used gillnets less than 10 m long, and less than one third preferred gillnets between 10 and 100 m long; a few used gillnets longer than 100 m. Fishermen usually set their gear close to their village, and about 50 percent preferred to fish in tributaries followed by the main channel behind sandbars and islands, and the main channel near a bank. Fishermen reported seeing more GRD in the main river stem in winter. In summer, fishermen spotted more GRD in tributaries. Most fishermen told us they believed education, awareness, and changing occupations were important for GRD conservation, but they indicated that occupational options were currently limited in Nepal. Nepalese fishermen acknowledged that fisheries posed a risk to GRD, but they believed water pollution, and dam/irrigation development were the greatest threats.
Cite this as
2015. Characterization of artisanal fisheries in Nepal and potential implications for the conservation and management of Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) PeerJ PrePrints 3:e1197v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1197v1note This preprint is not peer-reviewed. You may wish to reference the subsequent peer-reviewed version of this article.
Author comment
This is a submission to PeerJ for review.
Sections
Supplemental Information
Additional Information
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Author Contributions
Shambhu Paudel conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, wrote the paper, prepared figures and/or tables, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Juan C Levesque analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, wrote the paper, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Camilo Saavedra analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, wrote the paper, prepared figures and/or tables, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Cristina Pita analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, wrote the paper, prepared figures and/or tables, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Prabhat Pal analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, wrote the paper, prepared figures and/or tables, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Human Ethics
The following information was supplied relating to ethical approvals (i.e., approving body and any reference numbers):
Department of National Parks and Wildllife Conservation (DNPWC) provided the approval to undertake this study in three river systems of Nepal. Reference number 353.
Funding
Ocean Park Conservation Foundation and Rufford Foundation provided funding. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
