FRESHWATER FISH DIVERSITY IN AND AROUND VADODARA DISTRICT: A FOCUS ON SMALL INDIGENOUS SPECIES

The present study aimed to document fish diversity in freshwater ecosystems located in and around the Vadodara district, from October 2020 to June 2023. The study specifically examines ichthyofaunal composition in freshwater lakes and reports.A total of 31 fish species were recorded, belonging to 10 orders, 16 families, and 29 genera. The assemblage was dominated by members of the Cyprinidae, contributing the highest number of species, followed by Ambassidae, while several other families such as Xenocyprididae, Bagridae, Siluridae, and Cichlidae showed moderate representation, and the remaining families were represented by single species. Conservation assessment based on IUCN categories revealed that most species fall under the Least Concern category, with a smaller proportion classified as Near Threatened and Vulnerable, along with one Data Deficient species and a few species that have not yet been evaluated. This study provides an updated and site-specific assessment of freshwater fish diversity in the Vadodara district, building upon earlier studies conducted in Gujarat. These findings contribute valuable baseline information for biodiversity conservation, sustainable fisheries management, aquaculture development, and enhancement of nutritional security and livelihood opportunities for local communities.