Ichthyo Diversity of Batticaloa Lagoon, Sri Lanka, and Needs for Their Conservation

Abstract

The present study was to generate an inventory of the fin fish of Batticaloa Lagoon and to assess the impact of water quality on the distribution of fishes. A total of 10,504 fish specimens were collected, belonging to 85 species representing of 45 families.Collected species were classified Estuarine Dependent (ED), Marine Seasonal (MS), Fresh Water species (FW) and Reef Associates (RF) according to their life cycle and capability to cope with salinity fluctuations. Ambassis gymnocephalus was the most abundant species (11.34%), followed by Etroplus suratensis (6.78%), Arius maculatus (6.33%) and Gerres filamentosus (5.61%); Sixty four percent (64.02%) of the collected species correspond to an ED component, followed by MS (19.02%), FW component (13.12%), and very few are RF (3.84%) of total numerical abundance. Various things like partial impoundments and causeway across the lagoon, and seasonal changes influence the the fish abundance and distribution of the lagoon. The information and observation in this study will be very useful in formulating management policies for the future use of Batticaloa Lagoon especially multi-usage of fisheries with other sectors.