Present Status, Threats and Conservation Measures of Mahseer Resources in the Central Rivers of Meghalaya

Meghalaya, a northeastern state of India is recognised for its bountiful resources in the form of coldwater streams and rivers and a home of the mighty mahseer. Four species viz., Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, Neolissochilus hexastichus, Tor tor and Tor putitora form an excellent subsistence food and sport fishery in the state of Meghalaya. An attempt has been made in this paper to assess the altitudinal and intra drainage distributional pattern of mahseer, factors responsible for population loss and strategies and policies undertaken by the local communities to restore degraded aquatic ecosystems to enhance the endangered mahseer stock in some of the selected rivers in Meghalaya. Neolissochilus hexagonolepis and the two Tor species (Tor tor and Tor putitora) have shown wide distributional range. N. hexastichus was recorded only from the river Janiaw. Use of locally available plant extracts such as Kharu, Jaiur, Sohlooh were found in use on a large scale in the area for catching the fish.