Reviving Wetland Biodiversity and Livelihoods through Indigenous Fish Restoration: Pen Culture Initiative in North 24 Parganas

May 2026 : Wetlands constitute some of the most productive yet increasingly vulnerable ecosystems, supporting fisheries, biodiversity conservation, nutrient cycling, climate resilience, and livelihoods of millions of rural households. However, indigenous fish diversity in wetland ecosystems has witnessed alarming decline due to habitat degradation, indiscriminate fishing, pollution, nutrient loading from agriculture, hydrological alterations, and climate-induced ecological stress. The shrinking population of native fish species raises important concerns for biodiversity conservation, food and nutritional security, and sustainable inland fisheries governance.

In response to these emerging challenges, ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpor, with financial support from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), implemented a demonstration programme on pen-based seed rearing of the small indigenous fish species Systomus sarana in the Chamaradaha and Sindrani wetlands of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The initiative aimed at restoring indigenous fish abundance, strengthening sustainable culture-based fisheries, and enhancing community participation in wetland resource management.

The intervention demonstrated the suitability of pen culture technology for wetland-based seed production and biodiversity restoration. Fish were reared from fry to advanced fingerling and yearling stages within scientifically designed pens, producing quality stocking material for wetland enhancement. The programme highlighted pen culture as a viable, scalable, and community-friendly approach for restoring depleted native fish populations while promoting sustainable fisheries development.

A field day and harvest mela were organized wherein the harvested fish were stocked into the open wetlands to facilitate stock enhancement, culture-based fisheries, and natural auto-recruitment of indigenous fish species. Simultaneously, a portion of the stock was retained within the pens to evaluate the feasibility of in situ recruitment under the pen culture system, offering valuable insights for future wetland fisheries management models.

Recognizing the close ecological linkage between agriculture and wetland health, the programme also included an awareness campaign on balanced fertilizer use. Farmers and stakeholders were sensitized on the scientific and judicious application of fertilizers to reduce nutrient runoff, eutrophication risks, and deterioration of wetland water quality. The intervention underscored the need for integrated land–water management approaches for sustaining both agricultural productivity and aquatic ecosystem integrity.

The awareness programmes were conducted on 14 May 2026 at Chamaradaha and 15 May 2026 at Sindrani, with active participation of local fishers, farmers, and community stakeholders, reflecting growing awareness and ownership toward sustainable wetland stewardship.

The activities were conducted by Dr. Lianthuamluaia and Dr. Suman Kumari under the guidance of Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI. Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Dr. Dey observed: Restoration of indigenous fish diversity in wetlands is vital for ecological sustainability, nutritional security, and livelihood resilience of wetland-dependent communities, while also contributing to the broader goals of the Blue Economy through sustainable utilization of aquatic resources. Community-led interventions such as pen culture offer an effective pathway for enhancing sustainable fisheries production alongside conservation of native aquatic biodiversity. However, scaling such initiatives requires stronger policy convergence across fisheries, agriculture, wetland management, and Blue Economy frameworks, supported by institutional mechanisms for community stewardship, native fish seed production, habitat restoration, and ecosystem-based fisheries governance.

The programme successfully demonstrated how scientific fisheries interventions, coupled with community participation and ecological awareness, can contribute to restoration of indigenous fish diversity and sustainable wetland management. Such initiatives align with national priorities on sustainable inland fisheries, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and integrated wetland management, while also highlighting policy imperatives relating to native species conservation, cross-sectoral governance of wetlands, and strengthening community-based fisheries management systems.

Team Maverick