Some freshwater aquatic species may become extinct

It’s a popular belief that unlike meat lovers, fish lovers are an addicted lot. Take a look at people in coastal areas, you will find fish on their menu and diet every other day. Even a fish lover residing in the city would flock to the fish market or visit the cold storage once every two days to make their purchase.

Now if you belong to either of the above categories, you might be in trouble, for a survey has revealed that certain aquatic species, particularly freshwater ones, are on the verge of becoming extinct.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ‘Red list’ has warned that few freshwater species of Western Ghats are undergoing collateral damage due to the rapid economic development. The list states that freshwater fish, molluscs, and several aquatic plants have started showing ‘tendencies for extinction.’

According to the IUCN report, freshwater fish are the most threatened group in peninsular India, with more than 37% at risk of global extinction. For example, the endangered Deccan Mahseer is one of the most sought-after edible fish. However, due to over-harvesting, invasive species, and pollution, it has declined massively in the past decade. The same is the case with Miss Kerala (Puntius denisonii), another edible variety of fish.

It’s not just the fish lovers who are in trouble. Certain communities in India rely on freshwater species for their livelihoods. This includes both edible fish and marine plants. Once the species become extinct, it might be hard for them to make their living.

About 28% of aquatic plants have medicinal value and these have started becoming extinct, the report has found. For example, Cremnochonchus syhadrensis, an endangered freshwater periwinkle, and a pond weed Aponogeton satarensis are slowly becoming extinct.

“Water pollution from agricultural and urban sources, over-harvesting and invasive species were the major threats that have led to 16% of freshwater species becoming extinct,” said Sanjay Molur, executive director, Zoo Outreach Organization, in the report. “If we continue to degrade our freshwater systems and over-harvest our resources, we will not only lose biodiversity but also many valuable services that nature provides us for free,” says Rajeev Raghavan, Conservation Research Group at St. Albert’s College, Kochi.