Endangered Fish Species in Sri Lanka

Don’t be a reason to break an innocent life chain. Be a reason to save humanity and earth. Because all living beings deserve a life free from fear and pain like you and me.

Sri Lanka is a land of beauty that owns a diverse network of freshwater habitats such as rivers, streams, tanks, flood plains, pools, and paddy fields. Even though our country is rich in these resources, there is no point in having these freshwater habitats without fish. Undoubtedly, fish have become the most attractive fauna in freshwater habitats. They are not only a food source for several species, but also provide links between ecosystems through their daily migrating, feeding, and resting areas. Some such fish species in lakes are capable of transporting and redistributing phosphorus and other essential nutrients between the shore, pelagic, and deeper bottom zones.

Unfortunately, a huge number of fish species as well as the species endemic to Sri Lanka have become endangered due to many reasons. Simply, endangered gives the meaning of being close to extinction. It means that the particular animal species are not doing very well. The long-term survival of these innocent lives has become threatened due to many reasons. Ninety-seven fish species of our country have been recognized under the endangered freshwater fish in Sri Lanka Red list 2020. The most tragic matter is that out of these, 61 species are endemic to our country. Based on the distribution patterns of freshwater species, the Southern Province, the Mahaweli Province, the Transition Province, and the Dry Zone can be identified as major ichthyological provinces.

The highest number of endemic and endangered freshwater fish species can be found in the Southwestern Province. Several species such as Pethia bandula, Stiphodon martenstyni, and Rasboroides nigromarginata can be found only from a single location. However, species such as Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi, and Rasbora wilpita, which were also thought to be restricted to the Nilwala basin have now been found also in other river basins. The Mahaweli zone is a home for several species such as Dawkinsia srilankensis, Systomus martenstyni, Labeo fisheri, and Labuca insularis can be found nowhere else on the island.

Sadly, many human activities such as deforestation, gem mining, excessive use of agrochemicals, release of pollutants, large and small dams, and some natural hazards like floods, landslides, and changes in climatic weather patterns are caused to change the delicate ecological balance.

Moreover, other human activities such as the introduction of exotic fish species, overexploitation by the aquarium industry, extraction of fish for food using illegal methods (for example, poisoning and the use of explosives) are causing a significant reduction in the population sizes of native fish. The responsibility of conserving these endangered species is obviously hosted in our hands. Legal protection provided currently to the freshwater fish of Sri Lanka includes 17 species, which have been protected by law under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance No.22 of 2009. In addition,13 species are prohibited from export under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, no 2 of 1996; and another 13 species whose exports are restricted, under the same act.

Approximately 28% of the land area in Sri Lanka has been declared as a protected area and is managed by either the Department of Wildlife Conservation or the Forest Department. However, most of the Threatened, endemic, and range-restricted freshwater fish are found in habitats located outside the Protected Area Network and are subject to high human pressure. There have been several local extinctions, and if this trend continues, it may lead to the extinction of species as well. Therefore, awareness should be created among local communities to protect this valuable resource.

The successful conservation story of Bandula barb (Pethia bandula) and Asoka barb (Systomus asoka) can be adduced as a plus point. Earlier, both these endemic species were recognized as critically endangered. However, now they are strictly protected by local communities in the Kegalle district.

All in all, it is clear that as humans, we should protect and assess the wellbeing of endangered and endemic fish species because immediacy is better than regret. This should not be limited to a mere discussion. This should be a broader responsibility that leads to feeling proud involuntarily as Sri Lankans.

- Rtr. Piumali Pattiarachchi -