Indigenous fishes are gradually disappearing from the water bodies in Barolekha upazila of Mouivibazar district, much to the worries of the local people.

Once bountiful with around 260 species of fish, the wetlands of the upazila have now only 50 species.

Poor levels of water in rivers, construction of roads and houses by filling canals and water bodies and other human interventions, including use of harmful pesticides in farmlands and unplanned construction of dams and irrigation projects, and unplanned fishing through use of fine nets are the main reasons behind the extinction of the local fish species.

Besides, fish breeding is being hampered due to rampant netting of brood fish and fish fry.

On inquiry, it was found that local species of sweet water fish are still there in 238 small and big haors

marshes, ponds including Hakaluki.

At least 14 species of fish have become extinct while 14-15 others are on the verge of extinction.

The fishes facing extinction are mola, darkina, napit koi, gutum, bagha gutum, baligara, chapila, gojar and pabda.

The endangered species of fish are bagha, rila, nandia, aiyr and mohashole.

Now foreign and cultured species of fish are dominating the local markets.

Only a handful fishes from haors (big water bodies) are available in the markets, which are also beyond the purchasing capacity of the common people.

Barolekha upazila fisheries officer Azizur Rahman said, the fisheries department has undertaken various projects to preserve the local varieties offish.

It is possible to protect the local varieties of fish if people catch fish properly and as per the Fish Resources Act, he added.