Fish diversity in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India

Abstract

Vembanad Lake is under increasing pressures from anthropogenic and climate factors. The study evaluated the fish diversity in Vembanad Lake in order to ascertain its health. Fish samples caught with different types of nets namely cast net and gill net were collected from September 2012 to February 2013 from local fishers at the fish landing centre. A total of 20 species belonging to 18 families and 19 genera were recorded from the study area during the present study. Diversity of fishes and threats to the fauna are discussed. The low fish species composition denotes that Vembanad Lake is threaten, that is, undergoing degradation.

Keywords: Fish assemblage, species composition, threats, Vembanad Lake