Abstract:
Kukule Ganga south of Kuruwita town slowly meanders through a
broad valley, and it flows fast north of it with rapids and pools. Both these
regions sustained 12 species of freshwater fish of which Puntius
nigrofasciatus is one, it's density of occurrence was about 2% in the southern
part and about 10% in the northern part of town. Their density increased
towards the hilly area and the populations are confined to pools with marginal
vegetation of Lagcnandra ovata.
Spawning is around March/April and November. Their commercially
exploitable yield in the region is between 0.09-0.321M2. Dynamiting and
river bed gem mining has severely affected the fish fauna.