Sustainable Management of Fish Genetic Resources in India

The conservation and management of fish genetic resources are linked with almost all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to global development. India with vast aquatic resources including biodiversity hotspots in the Western Ghats, North East Region, Himalayas, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands supports rich fish diversity and contributes to the livelihood of the rural and coastal communities. The rich aquatic biodiversity is incessantly threatened by various natural and anthropogenic stressors, viz. habitat destruction, overexploitation, aquatic pollution, invasive alien species, and climate change. This chapter discusses the current status of the fish genetic resources in diverse habitats in India with the historical perspectives on new species discovery and expansion of protected areas (PAs). The role of various conservation approaches including the ex-situ and in-situ measures for the sustainable management of fish genetic resources and the significance of fishery resource management in ensuring the food and nutritional security, livelihood promotion of the native communities, economic development of the country, maintenance of ecological integrity, and health of the ecosystem are also discussed in detail in this chapter.