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Fisheries and Aquaculture of Snow Trouts in the Trans-Himalayan Region

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Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Temperate Himalayas

Abstract

The Himalayas play a vital role in the livelihood support of human beings, and the significance of efficiently conserving these diverse natural resources has long been well recognized and established. The trans-Himalayas are home to ten of the world’s largest river systems and are widely acknowledged as a center for the evolution and diversification of a wide variety of life forms. Ecologically and economically, significant aquatic biodiversity is found in rivers, streams, and lakes, which feature diverse altitudinal geomorphologies. The Schizothroacinae family of fish, better known as snow trouts, is the most abundant cyprinid family in the mountains. These fish are highly sought after for both their food and esthetic qualities. These fish are primarily herbivorous and have evolved to thrive in rivers and streams that experience high levels of precipitation and flooding. Schizothorax spp. and Schizothoraichthys spp. are found at lower altitudes, while Diptychus spp. are found at slightly higher elevations. Adverse effects on crucial life cycle phenomena have been exacerbated by multiple anthropogenic and climatic uncertainties, leading to biodiversity depletion. Captive culture, breeding, and larval developmental studies have been attempted. However, the upscaling of aquaculture practices for these species is still in the infant stages due to slow growth. Prioritizing snow trout species mapping, in situ and ex situ conservation strategies, upscaling of sustainable culture and breeding techniques, long-term monitoring of cold-water resources, and strengthening location-specific legal frameworks are imperative to conserve this important fishery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anusandhan Bhavan, ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India

    Suresh Chandra & Parvaiz Ahmad Ganie

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  1. Suresh Chandra
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  2. Parvaiz Ahmad Ganie
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Anusandhan Bhavan, ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India

    Pramod Kumar Pandey

  2. Anusandhan Bhavan, ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India

    Nityanand Pandey

  3. Anusandhan Bhavan, ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India

    Md. Shahbaz Akhtar

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Chandra, S., Ganie, P.A. (2023). Fisheries and Aquaculture of Snow Trouts in the Trans-Himalayan Region. In: Pandey, P.K., Pandey, N., Akhtar, M.S. (eds) Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Temperate Himalayas. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8303-0_9

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