Exploitation pattern of small indigenous fish species: observations from fish markets of rural West Bengal, India

An assessment of the small indigenous fish species (SIS) available in the fish markets was made using selected places of West Bengal, India as the geographical area. Information obtained on the species composition, species diversity and unit price was used as parameters to highlight the exploitation pattern of SIS. As a saleable unit, the SIS was sold as an assortment of multiple species following harvest from the local freshwater wetlands. Samples (n = 117) of assorted SIS from the fish markets revealed considerable variations in the composition (species richness ranging between 2 and 11) and diversity (Shannon-Weiner diversity index ranging between 0.69 and 2.27). Among the total of 28 species of SIS, the numerical dominance of Amblypharyngodon mola, Puntius sophore, Chanda nama, Parambassis ranga and Mystus vittatus were observed in the samples while Channa striata, Badis badis, Macrognathus aculeatus were observed in least numbers in the samples. The relative abundance of fish species was found to decrease with the increase in species richness in the samples complying with a linear regression equation (Relative abundance (y) = 70.06 - 5.182 x Species richness (x); R2 = 0.553; r = -0.744; P67% variation of the data on the price, species richness, relative abundance and absolute abundance of the SIS in the samples. The observation on the SIS in the market was a pioneer effort to document the variations in the species composition and exploitation pattern of a natural resource. The species composition and the exploitation pattern recorded in the present study was primary but essential information on the ecology and economics of the SIS as a food resource enriched with protein, vitamin and minerals. Further studies should be carried out to monitor the harvest and exploitation pattern of SIS from the concerned geographical area.