Conservation of freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka supports a diverse fauna of freshwater fishes, 24% of which are endemic. A survey of the island's streams indicated that a number of the endemic fishes are threatened with extinction and others are depleted due to the interaction of deforestation, urbanization, gem mining, pesticides, exploitation, water diversions, and introductions of exotic species. It is clear that these declines should be halted for ethical, economic, and ecological reasons. Methods proposed to reverse the declines include captive breeding, better watershed management, translocation, and regulation of fisheries, especially that for aquarium fishes. The depauperate Second Peneplain is proposed as a site for translocation of endangered species.