Well, after introducing ourselves with a few fish species of Manipur that are endangered, it now comes down to knowing why they met this bad situation and to what effect the impact has reached.  

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed at least 50 fish species of North-East India that are Vulnerable which is just close to endangerment. So it’s time for us to find out the reasons.

Freshwater is required for human beings for drinking and sanitation and of course many other useful purposes like irrigation, household chores, cooking etc. But it also supports various aquatic lives including fish.  However this precious commodity is in crisis. Some among the many reasons are explained below:  

Five threats to freshwater

Water Pollution: Water receives all sorts of domestic and industrial effluents. In addition, pesticides used in the paddy field are also washed down to drainages and rivers. People use poisons for fishing. Thus water gets heavily polluted. Training in the development and implementation of water quality monitoring, assessment and control and investment in pollution reduction technologies may improve the situation. 

Fishing with plant poisons

Over-exploitation: The ever increasing human population and demands for fish as food has given great pressure to fisheries. Overfishing in inland fisheries can have severe consequences for the freshwater ecosystems and in the process include the human inhabitants in the area due to the unregulated behaviour of fisheries over the area.   

Introduction of invasive species:  In order to meet the increasing demand, exotic fish species have been introduced. The Bighead, Tilapia, Common carp which are more adaptive have caused threats to the native species, making them diminish in population and become endangered. Strict legislation to minimize the movement and introduction of invasive species should be enforced.

Flow Modification: Flow modification is the change of direction, geography and surroundings of rivers or lakes by building water dams, barrage infrastructures, etc.  which disturbs the natural course and direction of flow of water bodies. Many locally migrating fishes to breeding and feeding grounds are blocked. Engineers should discuss with biologists and environmentalists to solve such problems, say inclusion of fish ladders while construction dams.

Loss of habitat: Loss of habitat is caused by encroachment of habitat of fishes, disposal of waste in the catchment area, human settlements, etc. Sand and pebble mining for construction works have also led to the habitat loss. Such activities should be stopped in the breeding and feeding grounds of the fishes.

                 Having skimmed to what effect it has reached, it’s time to show our consciousness by safeguarding our environment and not simply nodding on government’s plans or anyone else's initiatives. It is through participation and incorporation of people and government altogether regulating their use of natural resources and introduction of rights and steps for natural conservation that will save our precious fishes. 

The ultimate conservation action will come from people’s participation. Thus awareness of all concerned is the prerequisite call for action.  

Ngara, a fish not to be forgotten

[Ngara: Scientific Name: Tor putitora]

Ngara

The large scaled carps in the hill streams are not seen by

many in the plains.

Ngara is one such fish, restricted to cold water hill streams

The fish is beautiful and is a game fish

Anglers are crazy after this fish

The taste of the fish is far superior to those of our carps in the plain

The habit of the fish in fast running water make the meat special

The cold water render the oil of the fish special.

Whoever have tasted the fish will never forget it.

The fish is baked smoky in charcoal  and exposed to heat of the sun,and   sometimes sold in the market.

It forms a good recipe in various curry preparations.

The fish has also been categorized Endangered. 

We have great responsibilities to conserve this  Engangered Fish.

Ngakra is Endangered

[Ngakra; Scientific Name: Clarias magur]

Ngakra is a live fish, meaning sold in the market alive.

They inhabit swamps and paddy fields flooded with water

Commonly known as ‘cat fish’ because of its long whiskers

It is carnivorous and is not suitable for culture with other fishes

Ngakra

The fish is highly valued for its nutritional value: 

proteins and minerals and special taste.

Fried Ngakra is served as special item in feasts.

It is often given to weak persons to improve health.

Now the fish is very rarely sold in the market

International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorized the fish as Endangered

What made the fish to disappear from our waters ?

We have great responsibility to conserve the fish to sustain our health and for our future generation

Swamp

The magnificent Ngamu Sangum

[Scientific name=Garra species]

These small sized fishes dwell in the highly torrential hill streams of Manipur.  
People believed that the fish emerged out of caterpillars, may be because of its rough and caterpillar-legs like snout.

In fact, it is not so.

The spines, called ‘tubercles’ are used by them to deflect the strong water current so that they can force themselves up in hill streams and  are thus  not washed away.

In addition, they have a disc on the chest which is used for adhesion to the rocks.

These features again quality the fish to be a good aquarium fish.

What a fish!! Nature has given them the devices for their special mode of life.                                                                                                                          The activity of the disc is widely utilized in Spa and manicuring in Star Hotels and Body fitness centres.

   Is it not interesting?

Have we ever thought of Manipur having such wonderful fishes?

Ngapang, the idiot fish

(Scientific name: Glyptothorax species)  

Ngapang

•       Ngapang [Nga=fish, pang=idiot] means the idiot     fish. But are they really idiots?    No!! In fact, they are hill stream fishes.  
•       Just imagine how a creature in a stream would withstand the highly torrential and forceful water current.
•     A moment of carelessness and the animal would be washed away; crash-land on a rock and face the consequences.
•       Nature has given the fish the facility to adhere to the rocks. The chest has the adhesive device to attach to the bottom so that they are not washed away.
•      In this process, they remain motionless and we think that they are idiots.

             This particular nature qualify  the fish to be a good candidate as an aquarium fish. Manipur has  more than a dozen species of   Ngapang.

    Are we not concerned about the

   conservation of these prospective

    fishes?

Ngatup, the colourful tiny aquarium fishes

[Scientific name: Schistura species]

• Ngatup (named after the coloured bars on the body) occur widely in the hill streams of Manipur.

• About 50 species of such colourful fishes are expected to be found in the streams of the state.

• Its small size (hardly reaching 10 cm length) and bony consistency, do not quality it as a good food fish.

• The fishes often remain unattended after a fishing operation and many of them die out of water.

• The fascinating beauty of these colourful tiny ornamental fishes has been attracting aquarium hobbyists from time immemorial.

• South and Southeast Asia has been the centre of export of ornamental fishes to different destinations of the world.

• The rich resources of these hill stream fishes of Manipur have not been explored.

The fish needs protection to live in the wild.     

·      

Ngamhai, the small glass fish of delicacy

Ngamhai [scientific name: Chanda nama]

Ngamhai

"

• "Ngakha-Ngamhai-Ngamu-Ngakra." Our forefathers used to recite, to praise the indigenous fishes of Manipur.
• The fish was plenty in the ponds, lakes and river of the valley
•   A vegetable curry preparation was   incomplete without Ngamhai. 

  This generation has not seen the fish

Let us not miss the glances of our natural beauties and  conserve our natural surroundings. 
Let us bring harmony among nature and humanity. 
Because we are part of the nature

Meitei Ngamu, a  fish of food and cultural value

Meitei Ngamu (Scientific name=Channa gachua)

Ngamu

• Also called ‘Live Fish’ since it is sold in the market alive because it can inhale air and live without water for quite some time
• Very nutritious and tasty fish, often caught from marshes and swamps. 
• Manipuris harvest the fish and when it is plenty,roast and dry them and store for eating in the off season.
• It forms the basis of protein nutrition of Manipuris and are served as vegetable curry.

• The fish is offered to ailing patients for his/her health and long life.
• Used in the process ‘ushin’ (a cultural practice for wishing good fortune to a Manipuri) in which a fish is released in the water for health and longevity of a family member.
• The fish is an essential item in the customary rites of the Manipuris: be it marriage or child birth or weaning.

How can we afford the extinction of Ngamu from Manipur waters??
  

Ngakha, the endangered tiny fish of Manipur

Ngakha [bitter fish]; scientific name: Pethia manipurensis

Ngakha

Ngakha is a small sized fish, endemic only to Manipur valley.

Not found anywhere in the world !!!

Once widely found in the lakes and ponds, now restricted to streams in the periphery of the valley.

A fish, known for its delicacy as food.

A fish, closely associated with the customary rites of Manipuris, be it marriage or ^*Ipan Thaba and many more …

The fish is sundried and is often used in the preparation of Hentak,

-a fermented fish paste of medicinal value.

The tiny- sized (1-1½ inches) creature is as ideal as aquarium fish

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in 2010 declared the fish as Endangered species

Are we not concerned about this fish of cultural value ?

We should make people aware of this fact

And put our efforts to save this Endangered fish from Extinction.

^*Ipan Thaba is a customary rite for a newborn baby 

performed by Maibis (female spiritual practioner) or disciple of Umang Lai( A God of every locality of Meitei). It is performed on the sixth day of child birth. On this day, the rite performer teaches the mother’s child to taste the different types of food and essential items used daily by the Manipuris.The purpose of the rite is to make the child live healthily and blessed hereafter with prosperous life.

Ngakha is an essential component of this rite.

Ngakha is inseparable from the social customs of Manipuris.

Khabag, a Forgotten Fish by the 

Present Generation

Khabag [Scientific Name= Bangana devdevi]

Khabag

Khabag, Pengba, Ngara & Ngatin were the medium to large-sized fishes with silvery scales.

We are forgetting those delicacies which were once esteemed by the Manipuris.

After the introduction of Indian major carps viz. Rohu, Mrigal, Catla, etc, the populations of those indigenous fishes have declined drasctically and are rarely to be seen now.

Khabag is a medium- sized fish, weighing upto 1-2 kg. 

The fish is a native of the rivers of the Manipur valley and Myanmar border.

When monsoon sets in, the fish breeds and its young ones-popularly known as ' Ngaton' were plenty in the lakes.

The drying of lakes, the invasion of water with fishes from outside the state has made Khabag move to rivers near the hills in the border, away from the valley.

Why are we forgetting our native fishes ? 

Are we not bringing them to farms for culture and increase its population???

The alarming verge of extinction is close by now- ignored many days before

We need to conserve our rich indigenous fish of Manipur, Khabag.

The King Fish, Ngarel  

Ngarel [Scientific name=Bagarius yarrelli]

Ngarel

Ngarel meaning the ‘King Fish’ is really a king.

Grows upto 1-1.5 metres and weighs more than 50 kg.

Very grave, not very fishy and stationary almost all the time.

Very powerful and stays at the bottom of rivers.

Prefer to stay away from human habitation and

Hate noise and disturbance.

Fishermen dive and often tie a rope on its tail.

Quickly pull up on the shore and catch.

A fish of high food value.

Increasing human population

Sprouting of townships on the banks of the river

Increasing pollution and human intervention

Are the threats to these fishes.


We need to pay attention and help them to continue 

their race in our rivers.

Pengba, the State fish of Manipur. 

What is its future ??

Pengba [scientific name= Osteobrama belangeri]  

Pengba

Highly esteemed fish of Manipur

Associated with the cultural heritage of the state

since time immemorial.

Formerly widely distributed in the rivers and lakes.

Said as migrating from the Chindwin River of Myanmar to the rivers of the Manipur valley where they breed and grow.

Forced the fish to be extinct in the wild in Manipur.

Construction of Ithai Barrage across the Imphal River in the early 1990’s blocked its route.

Now thanks to Manipur Fisheries.

The captive fishes were artificially propagated.

And is in the farm ponds,

Separated from the parent stock.

Why not we plan for alternative ways to resume the natural migration of Pengba to Manipur?

We need to conserve this beautiful fish …