Researchers have finally been able to genetically map 85 different species of shark which are found in Indian waters.

The DNA mapping of these sharks is thought to be rather significant in terms of being able to identify the most threatened species. Now it will be easier to help manage programs to save them. The program is being headed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and is part of an ongoing survey and assessment plan for mapping deep sea species in the Indian Ocean.

India is currentlt the second largest shark fishing nation, many species of shark are killed for their fins, oil and their meat.

The actual genetic fingerprinting of the sharks was done by a team of scientists from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in conjunction with the Kochi regional center of the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Lucknow.

The shark samples were collected in the Gujurat, Tuticorin, Conchin fisheries harbour and also the Neendakara fishing harbour. The researchers were performing the fingerprinting under the direction of the N.G.K. Pillai, of the Pelagic Fisheries Division of the Institute, along with the help of A. Gopalakrishnan of the bureau. Other members on the team included K.K. Bineesh, K.V. Akhilesh and K.A. Sajeela.

This genetic fingerprinting will greatly aid in the identification of the different shark species from tissue samples. Most shark species are found at a depth of around 250 meters and little is actually known about them. This project is aiming to change that, and bring the sharks into the public eye.

The rare Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica) has been declared National Aquatic Animal of India. A few days after the formal declaration, which took place at a National Ganga River Basic Authority meeting in New Delhi earlier this week, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar announced that he has directed state authorities to put a halt to dolphin hunting in the Ganga.

“A close watch is being kept on the ghats of river Ganga by the magistrates, police officials and block development officers to stop hunting and fishing of the mammals,” senior officials said.

Patna District Magistrate J K Sinha said that instructions from chief minister has been passed
to senior officials, including sub-divisional officers, magistrates, police officers and block development officers to ensure close surveillance and act swiftly to stop hunting of the aquatic animal.

“Schools will take steps to aware the students about the gangetic dolphin which would

boost eco-tourism in the region,” he added.

Although the Wildlife Protection Act of India mandates dolphin conservation as a priority, little has been done at the government level to implement or enforce the law.

Where is Bihar?

Bihar is an Indian state located in the eastern part of the country. It is bordered by Nepal to the north, Jharkhand to the south, Uttar Pradesh to the west, and West Bengal to the east. The state is bisected by the Ganga River which flows through the middle of the state from west to east.

What is Ganga?

Outside India, the Ganga River is more commonly known as the Ganges River.

What is the Gangetic dolphin?

The Gangetic dolphine, also known as Ganges dolphin, Ganges river dolphin, Blind dolphin, and Side-swimming dolphin, is a dolphin endemic to the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. Its scientific name is Platanista gangetica and it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The current population consists of 1,200-1,800 individuals, and roughly half of these are found in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

It is referred to as the Blind dolphin due to its poor eye-sight which is probably an adaptation to the murky waters of the Ganga River.

The Indian government’s Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is now launching a breeding program for the threatened Red line torpedo barb (Puntius denisonii).

Torpedo barb – Picture by brookfish

Puntius denisonii, commonly known as Red line torpedo barb, Roseline shark, or Denison barb, is native to the fast-flowing hill streams and rivers in Kerala, at state located in the southern part of India. It is highly sought after in the aquarium trade.

After several years of research, the MPEDA has now managed to successfully breed Red line torpedo barb using two different techniques: one that relies on hormone treatment to trigger spawning and one where the natural breeding conditions of this barb is recreated in captivity.

MPEDA hopes to be starting commercial production shortly.

Picture by brookfish

Sri Lankan scientists have described a new species of fish from south-western Sri Lanka and placed in the genus Puntius.

Unlike its close relatives in Sri Lanka and India, the new species Puntius kelumi feature a combination of a smooth last unbranched dorsal-fin ray, a body depth that is 28.6-35.5 % of standard length (SL), maxillary barbels (about as long as the eye diameter) but no rostral barbels, 20-23 lateral-line scales on the body, and ½3/1/2½ scales in transverse line from mid-dorsum to pelvic-fin origin. One breeding males, the sides of the head and body are rough and extensively tuberculated.

Puntius kelumi is primarily found in large streams with clear water that flows down from the mountains. The bottom is typically made up by granite, pebbles and/or sand and is often littered with boulders.

The description was published by the journal Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters.

For more information about Puntius kelumi, see the paper: Pethiyagoda, R, A Silva, K Maduwage and M Meegaskumbura (2008) Puntius kelumi, a new species of cyprinid fish from Sri Lanka (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 19, pp. 201–214.

http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief19_3_02.pdf

A picture of the new species can be seen here

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Puntius is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Cyprinidae. All known members of the genus are native to Southeast Asia and India, including Sri Lanka. The name Puntius is derived from the word pungti, which is the term for small cyprinids in the Bangla (Bengali) language.

Puntius fish are commonly referred to as spotted barbs, but some species display vertical black bands instead of spots. Spotted barbs are commonly kept by aquarists and are known to be active, curious and bold. Many of them are unsuitable companions for fish with long and flowing finnage since they tend to nip such fins, a habit which causes both injury and stress in the afflicted animal.

For many years, residents living along the Great Kali River at the border between India and Nepal have claimed that a mysterious underwater creature is catching and devouring humans who dare to venture into the river. The rumours have now been investigated by biologist Jeremy Wade, who says the perpetrator might be a Goonch catfish (Bagarius yarrelli).

Local residents says that the creature probably changed its diet to include freshly caught human flesh after getting used to eating the remains of partly burned corpses. In Hinduism, corpses are traditionally cremated in pyres as a as part of the funeral rite and the remains are often placed in a river.

“The locals have told me of a theory that this monster has grown extra large on a diet of partially burnt corpses,” says Wade. “It has perhaps got this taste for flesh by feasting on remains of funeral pyres. There will be a few freak individuals that grow bigger than the other ones and if you throw in extra food, they will grow even bigger.”

Last year, and 18-year-old Nepali was dragged into the river by a creature described as “an elongated pig”, but this was not the first attack. 10 years ago, a 17-year-old Nepali was pulled below the surface while bathing, and three months later the same thing happened to another young boy.

Jeremy Wade is a biologist and TV presenter who investigated the Kali River-rumours for a TV documentary. You can find out more about him and his work here. (http://www.jeremywade.co.uk/about_jeremy_wade.html)

A group of Indian fishermen have threatened to commit suicide unless the authorities take necessary action to stop other fishermen from using prohibited purse seine and hair nets. The banned equipment can catch at least three tonnes of fish and sea food in a single trip; efficiently depriving lawful fishermen of fish.

According to the affected fishermen, roughly 300 boats continue to use prohibited fishing gear in the waters off Ramanathapuram. Since the present regulation against the practise has proven ineffective, the fishermen now demand confiscation of boats and nets from unlawful fishermen. Officials from the fisheries department have expressed powerlessness, since the unlawful fishermen enjoy political patronage.

Located in India’s south-eastern coastal region, close to Sri Lanka, Ramanathapuram is a city and a district in the Tamil Nadu state.

A technology that can be used to prepare nutrition enriched ice cream using fish has been developed by Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), one of India’s leading fishery research institutes, Newindpress.com reports. The technology can also be used to enrich noodles.

Just like most other modern ice-creams, the “Maricream” produced by CIFT contains water, suger, butter and egg white, as well as stabilisers, emulsifiers and flavouring substances. What makes it so species is that its major ingredient is cooked cuttle fish.

Afraid of smelling fishy? Don’t be – the ice cream has been deodourised to remove the smell of fish.

Read the full article in the Indian e-paper Newindpress.com

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEB20080512151841&Page=B&Title=Business&Topic=0