“Blue finned Mahseer” now placed under Least Concern (LC) status of IUCN red list

What is the news?

Blue Finned Mahseer which was on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list of endangered species has now moved to the ‘Least Concern (LC)’ status.

About Blue Finned Mahseer:

Source: The Indian Express

• Blue Finned Mahseer is a freshwater fish. It is also known as Deccan Mahseer or Tor Khudree.
• It is one of the sub-species of Mahseer.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
• Features:
  • It is a silvery-bluish coloured fish with blood-red fins or fins tipped with a bluish tinge.
  • Indicator species: Blue finned Mahseer is very sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature and sudden climatic changes. It just cannot bear pollution.
    • Hence, it acts as an indicator of ecosystem health because its prime requirement is a clean and pure environment.
• Diet: The fish feeds on plants, fruits, insects, shrimps and molluscs and may be grown in ponds. They are also predatory and prey on smaller mahseer.
• Habitat: Blue Finned Mahseer is found in the Mula-Mutha River close to the Indian city of Pune, a part of the Krishna River basin. It is also found in other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
• The species is migratory and moves upstream during rains

Conservation Initiative by Tata power:

• Tata Group is involved in the conservation of the blue-finned and golden mahseer for 50 years in an Artificial Lake at the Walvan Hatchery in Lonavala (near Pune), Maharashtra.
  • The company created a huge lake by damming the Indrayani River. It is at this artificial lake where Blue-Finned and Golden species of Mahseer congregate. Once the eggs hatch, they remain in the lake for 4-6 months.
  • They are then handed over to various fisheries departments across the country, who in turn introduce them to lakes and rivers in their states.
• Hence, due to these initiatives, Blue Finned Mahseer has now been moved to the ‘least concern’ status. However, the golden mahseer is still in danger of going extinct.

Source: Indian Express