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Vendor displays fresh Mahseer fish at Budhni Bengali Market, showcasing their distinctive features and size. Photograph: (Ground Report)
The afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the Department of Aquaculture at SAZE University, nestled in the Katara Hills Extension of Bhopal. Inside her office, Dr. Sriparna Saxena sat quietly, leafing through weathered documents and photographs that chronicled her life's work. Her fingers ran over images of the Mahseer as she spoke of her research on these giant freshwater fish. "The protection program," she says, with a tinge of regret, "it's all come to a halt now." "But we need to revive it. We must start again, " She adds.
Mahseer, once a symbol of Madhya Pradesh’s aquatic ecology, is now largely confined to research papers and government records. Previously comprising 35–40% of a fisherman's catch, the species has become increasingly rare. Studies indicate that the construction of impenetrable dams has significantly contributed to its decline. Despite being declared the state fish in 2011, conservation efforts were discontinued due to a lack of funding, pushing Mahseer toward extinction. Conservationists warn that without urgent intervention, Madhya Pradesh risks losing not just its state fish but also six other species that rely on its survival.
A fish called Mahseer
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Mahseer is a particular species of fish found throughout Southeast Asia, including India. If it is seen from the perspective of Madhya Pradesh, then the Tor Tor species of Mahseer is found here. It is mainly found in the basins of the Narmada and Tapti. In addition, the presence of Tor-Tor Mahseer has been recorded in rivers such as Kalisindh, Ken, and Betwa of the Ganga-Yamuna basin.
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The size of the largest tor tor Mahseer ever recorded is 200cm (6.6 ft). But they are usually only about 36 cm (14 in) long when mature. At the same time, the scales of this fish are also about 10 cm long.The species are local migratory freshwater fish. It moves from low-lying areas with slow currents to high-flowing areas to lay eggs. The fish migrates to higher rocky places during monsoon with the help of fast flowing rivers, which is helpful for their breeding and spawning process. Mahseer to thrive on–Clean water, presence of rocks, and sufficient oxygen content. All these conditions protect the mahseer from predators, provide him with an adequate diet, and most importantly - create favorable conditions for his reproduction. But during the construction of the dam, rocks are broken by the use of dynamite and the dam becomes an obstacle in the way of these fish. Both of these factors are driving these fish to the brink of extinction.
Dams rising and falling in Narmada
If we talk about the dams built only in the Narmada basin, then the first dam here, Ahmedpur Dam, was built in 1916 in Balaghat. A total of 281 small and big dams have been built in the Narmada basin so far, out of which 261 dams are in Madhya Pradesh itself.
The construction of dams adversely affects the aquatic ecology. A study published in 2017 highlighted the ecological impact of dams on the Narmada. According to this research, the construction of dams on the Narmada River has significantly changed the ecology of the river. Dams have led to major changes in water quality, productivity and aquatic flora and fauna. Due to these dams, the temperature of the water of Narmada has become irregular, there has been an increase in its impurities and there has been a change in the level of dissolved oxygen. Along with this, due to increase in the amount of silt from the catchment area, the turbidity in the middle and lower plains has also increased. Dams have severely affected the primary producers of the aquatic food chain and the presence of plankton.
Dr. Saxena, a limnologist who has studied Mahseer, describes it as an indicator species—its presence signifies a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Even minor environmental changes can threaten its survival.
Research indicates that the population of Tor-Tor Mahseer has been severely impacted by dam construction on the Narmada River. These dams have confined the fish’s breeding to hilly regions, while their feeding grounds in the low-lying areas have nearly vanished. As a result, Mahseer numbers in the Narmada have steadily declined. Data shows that the fish’s production in the river dropped from 330 tons in 1992-93 to just 3 tons within four years.
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Conservation efforts abandoned
Dr. Saxena, who has been a part of the Madhya Pradesh Initiative for River and Aquatic Life Enhancement, also known as (MIRACLE), highlights fish farming as a major contributor to the decline of Mahseer populations. Pregnant fish often fall victim to fishermen, while immature Mahseer are easily trapped in nets, hindering the species' ability to recover. To address this, a team of 12 fishermen has been formed across different regions to support Mahseer conservation efforts. One such group, the 'Badus Mitra Mandal,' operates near Pachmarhi. The initiative encourages fishermen to refrain from killing any fish.
Dr. Saxena adds, “Rivers flowing inside the forest area the amount of Mahseer used to be relatively more than the river outside the forest area. Based on all the facts, Dr. Saxena determined that the effort to save Mahseer would not be successful without involving all the stakeholders associated with Mahseer in the project like—the forest department and fishermen.
Dr. Saxena explains, “We collaborated with the forest department officials of the Badwah and Pachmadhi forest areas, as they play a crucial role in protecting the species. At the same time, we raised awareness among the fishermen, as it would not have been possible without their involvement.”
Dr. Saxena prepared a separate training material for the forest guards. At the same time, Rs 2 lakh was given by the government to compensate for the economic loss of the fishermen and a hatchery was also built for them.
The project incorporated both in situ and ex situ conservation methods. As part of ex situ conservation, an artificial pond was created, replicating the natural habitat of Mahseer with carefully arranged stones and other elements. Simultaneously, in situ conservation efforts ensured successful breeding within the river itself.
Dr. Saxena shares that the initiative yielded positive results. However, after the project's designated timeframe ended, it was discontinued and has remained inactive since.
Dr. Saxena shares, “During our conservation efforts, we successfully bred Mahseer for the first time in 40 years without the use of hormone injections. We raised and bred the young fish starting in 2016, and many of them are still alive today. I estimate that there are around 2,000 Tor-Tor Mahseer currently.” However, as of now, the Mahseer’s population data is not available in the IUCN, and it has not been classified due to a lack of data in the Red List category. Known as the "Tiger of Indian Rivers," conservationists recommend remediation efforts at dams to allow unimpeded access for Mahseer to its breeding grounds. Proposed measures include installing ladders in the dams or constructing hatcheries near them. Unfortunately, these initiatives cannot proceed due to the cessation of funding.
Mahseer carries a deep cultural significance. In Maheshwar, for example, a grand sculpture of Mahseer carved by the local queen can be found within the fort, highlighting the importance of this species. Currently, the State Biodiversity Board is preparing a Wildlife Atlas, identifying areas in the state that support all life stages of the Mahseer. These regions will be protected with the support of forest personnel. Chidiyabhadak is one such area where Mahseer has been given protection.
The extinction of Mahseer would not simply mark the loss of a species, but the collapse of the entire food chain. As a juvenile, Mahseer is carnivorous, but as it matures, it becomes vegetarian. Even a small disruption in the food chain could threaten its survival, much like a house of cards—removing one piece causes the entire structure to collapse. Moreover, Mahseer is not alone; its survival is intertwined with six other fish species. If Mahseer disappears, so will these associated species.
A once successful program for the conservation of Mahseer has now become merely a case study, and the Mahseer is reduced to being just a "state fish." In this context, one must question whether the government should have continued the MIRACLE initiative and similar programs aimed at protecting the Mahseer.
Edited by Diwash Gahatraj
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