Damaged rivers, collapsing fisheries: Impacts of dams on riverine fisheries in India
More than 10.86 Million Indians depend on rivers, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, ponds and tanks for subsistence and market-based fisheries. Though the absolute contribution of riverine fisheries may not be huge in economic terms, it is a very crucial component in livelihood and nutritional security of the rural poor. With declining health of rivers, riverine fisheries are declining and collapsing rapidly. This is indeed worrisome and needs to be ameliorated. SANDRP analysed the status of capture fisheries in rivers, floodplains, wetlands, estuaries, lakes and associated ecosystems in India and particularly looks at the devastating impacts of dams, barrages and hydrological modifications on this sector.