Consequences of climate change on fish diversity in Dekhar Haor Bangladesh

The study has explored the implications of climate change on fish biodiversity as experienced by the local people of Dekhar Haor. It also expressed the local community’s perceptions about the manifestations and consequences of climate change. In the study area, about 77.5% of people were involved with full-time fishing and 16.3% with part-time fishing. About 78.33% respondents thought that the weather has changed abruptly within the last 10 years. The study showed that the first and foremost factor is high temperature (100%). Considering biodiversity aspects, a total of 63 species under 20 families were found during the study period whereas 80 fish species under 29 families found 10 years back. The species availability status was remarked in four categories and obtained as 22 species highly available, 25 species moderately available, 16 species very low in availability and 17 species are not available. Alteration in several climatic factors like temperature, rainfall, increased drought, siltation and early flood caused overall 21.25% fish biodiversity loss where 16.67% carps, 27.27% catfishes, 10% barbs and minnows, 20% snakeheads, 20% eels, 23.08% perches, 50% featherbacks, 33.33% loaches and 16.67% miscellaneous species have been lost over a decade. Climate change in Dekhar Haor resulted in a shift to the breeding season, reduced fish biodiversity, wide variations in fish growth and taste.