Dal Lake loses native fish diversity, species count falls from 14 to 8: Survey

Srinagar, Sep 16: Dal Lake recorded only eight fish species during a six-month survey, with researchers flagging a significant decline in fish diversity and calling for urgent conservation measures.
The study, published in the July 2026 issue of the Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), examined the fish diversity and conservation status of the iconic Kashmir lake.
Researchers from Government Degree College Bemina and Government Degree College Uttersoo collected fish samples from three locations — Hazratbal, Nehru Park and Nishat — every fortnight between January and June 2025, with the help of local fishermen.
Only eight species were recorded during the study, the researchers said, compared with more than 14 species reported in earlier studies.
The survey found Cyprinus carpio specularis to be the most abundant species across all three sites, followed by *Cyprinus carpio communis.
Native snow trout species, including Schizothorax niger and Schizothorax curvifrons, were among the least abundant fish recorded.
The researchers reported seven Schizothorax niger at both Hazratbal and Nehru Park and five at Nishat. Schizothorax curvifrons numbers were four, seven and four respectively at the three sites.
The study also recorded Carassius carassius, Crossochellus diplochilus, Puntius conchonius and Gambusia holbrooki at the three sampling locations.
Researchers said some fish species reported in previous studies were not found during their survey, which they described as an indication of declining ichthyofaunal diversity.
The study attributed the decline to several pressures, including untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, eutrophication, introduction of exotic species, overfishing and loss of fish breeding grounds.
It also raised concern over the reported presence of alligator gar, an invasive predatory fish, saying it could prey on the fry and fingerlings of native Schizothorax species.
The researchers recommended controlling untreated sewage and agricultural runoff entering the lake, managing aquatic weeds and regulating human activities around the urban water body.
They also called for restocking native and endemic fish species, preventing the introduction of exotic invasive species and imposing measures against overfishing.
The study said fish are an important component of Dal Lake’s ecosystem as well as a source of food and income for communities dependent on fisheries.
The researchers further said that the lake’s fish diversity has been substantially affected and said immediate conservation measures were needed to prevent further loss of its aquatic biodiversity. (KNO)