Impact of hydroelectric projects on finfish diversity in the Sharavathi River estuary of Uttara Kannada District, central west coast of India

 Mahima Bhat1,2 ,  V. N. Nayak2, Subash Chandran1, T.V. Ramachandra1,*

1 Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka 560 012, India
2Dept of Marine Biology Kodibag, Karwar
* Corresponding author: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in

   Abstract
   Introduction
   Materials and Method
   Results and Discussion
   Acknowledgement
   References
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   Corresponding Author :

Dr. T.V. Ramachandra

Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
Tel: 91-080-23600985 / 2293 3099/ 2293 2506, Fax: 91-080-23601428 /23600085 /2360685 (CES TVR)
Web: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/foss
E Mail: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in, ganesh@ces.iisc.ernet.in

Abstract

Estuarine areas, associated with high biological productivity and rich fishery, are also often densely settled by humans. Seldom was any comprehensive study ever made in India on the impact on estuarine fin fish diversity due to execution of hydroelectric projects in the upstream of rivers. The study in the Sharavathi River estuary in central west coast of India illustrates how too low salinity conditions, resultant of incessant fresh water releases form upstream hydro-electric projects, created in the estuary conditions unfavorable for many high and medium stenohaline fishes retaining only euryhaline ones tolerant of wide ranges of salinity and perhaps adding few species characteristic of low salinity to fresh water conditions. Scope of EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment of dam projects should be expanded to include likely impact on estuaries and immediate marine areas.


Key words: Sharavathi River estuary, Hydro-electric projects, Salinity, Finfish diversity.

 

 

 
Citation: Mahima Bhat,  Nayak V. N.,  Subash Chandran M. D. and  Ramachandra T. V., 2014. Impact of hydroelectric projects on finfish diversity in the Sharavathi River estuary of Uttara Kannada District, central west coast of India, International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 5(1): 58-66
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