Fish sanctuaries provide a congenial habitat that supports to fish growth, survival and recruitment. The community-led conservation approach signifies its community participations for conserving fish resources through locally enforced regulations. Evidence from the protected stretches of the River Simsang, Meghalaya shows that the consistent community observations and societal regulations can efficiently restore the declined fish stocks at Wachi-Wari fish sanctuary. The collective decision making and indigenous knowledge systems have contributed significantly to the recovery of ecologically important hill stream fishes (e.g., mahseers), while simultaneously enhancing local livelihood security. The community managed fish sanctuaries in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya illustrates a suitable example of conservation approach for ‘mahseer’ which is relevant to the other parts of the Northeast India and comparability to the other tropical river systems.
Gogoi, P., DebRoy, P., Chanu, T.N., et al., 2026. Community-based Fish Sanctuaries for Fish Conservation in Garo Hills in the North-Eastern Region of India. Biotica Research Today 8(1), 17-20.
Community-managed, Conservation, Fish, Sanctuary
Das, P., Bhattacharjya, B.K., Das, B.K., 2022. Strategies for sustainable utilization of open water fisheries resources of Meghalaya: A way forward. Research Biotica 4(3), 124-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54083/ResBio/4.3.2022/124-131.
Dash, P., Tandel, R.S., Baruah, D., Sarma, D., 2020. Mahseer sanctuaries of Meghalaya: A conservation and recreational perspective. Aquaculture Asia 24(1), 3-7.
Jumani, S., Hull, V., Dandekar, P., Mahesh, N., 2023. Community-based fish sanctuaries: Untapped potential for freshwater fish conservation. Oryx 57(4), 522-531. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605322000503.
Mahapatra, B.K., Vinod, K., Mandal, B.K., 2004. Fish biodiversity of Meghalaya with a note on their sustainable utilization. Environment and Ecology 22, 56-63.
Snaitang, B., Saxena, S., Papang, H., Yadav, M.K., 2023. A study on fish diversity of Meghalaya. Biological Forum - An International Journal 15(10), 212-216.
