Fish Diversity of Ghat Kusumbha and Sheikhpura Block, Sheikhpura District, Bihar, India: Diversity, Habitat Characteristics, Conservation Challenges and Policy Perspectives—A Review

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems of the Indo-Gangetic Plain support exceptional fish biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services, including food security, livelihood generation, nutrient cycling, and ecological regulation. Bihar, with its extensive network of rivers, floodplain wetlands, ponds, oxbow lakes, irrigation canals, and seasonal water bodies, is one of India's most important inland fisheries regions. However, scientific information on the freshwater fish diversity of Ghat Kusumbha and Sheikhpura Block in Sheikhpura District remains limited. This review synthesises published literature (2000–2026) on fish diversity, habitat characteristics, conservation challenges, and management strategies relevant to the study area. Available evidence suggests that local freshwater habitats support diverse assemblages of cyprinids, catfishes, snakeheads, featherbacks, air-breathing fishes, and small indigenous fish species that are ecologically and economically significant. Habitat heterogeneity, seasonal hydrological connectivity, and floodplain dynamics are identified as the primary drivers of fish diversity and ecosystem productivity. Nevertheless, freshwater ecosystems face increasing threats from habitat degradation, wetland encroachment, agricultural runoff, pollution, overexploitation, invasive alien species, and climate change. The review highlights major research gaps, particularly the lack of comprehensive field-based biodiversity assessments, and recommends ecosystem-based fisheries management, habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring using molecular and geospatial tools, stronger policy implementation, and active community participation. This synthesis provides a scientific baseline for future ichthyological research and supports evidence-based conservation and sustainable freshwater resource management in Sheikhpura District and comparable landscapes of the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain.