Scientists and conservationists have raised concerns over the efforts undertaken by the State Fisheries Department to introduce common carp into riverine ecosystems in the Nilgiris that host critically endangered species of fish like the hump-backed mahseer, arguing that introducing potentially invasive species could have catastrophic consequences for local ecology that inhabit the Nilgiris’ pristine rivers.
The carp are being introduced to restock rivers under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, said N. Jothilakshmanan, Assistant Director of Fisheries (Nilgiris district). The fish were being introduced to the Kamaraj Sagar Dam, Pykara Lake and Glenmorgan in the Nilgiris, added Mr. Jothlakshmanan.
However, scientists and conservationists working on preserving river ecosystems have criticised such efforts, arguing that the introduction of species like the carp, which had become invasive in many parts of the world, could threaten highly endemic, endangered aquatic flora such as the Nilgiri danio, Nilgiri barb, Bowany barb and the critically endangered hump-backed mahseer.
