Present Status of Fish Diversity and Population Abundance of Selected Fish Species in Khudiya Dam, Mungeli Chhattisgarh, India

Fish has a vital role in the socioeconomic structure of South Asian nations and is a valuable source of protein. India is one of the twelve countries in the world with the highest level of biological diversity due to its vast biological heritage. Since the turn of the century, researchers have focused on the 2,546 species of fish that make up the fish population as well as the fish in the Indian subcontinent's inland waterways. The ichthyofauna's lack of knowledge is a major barrier to the popularization of lesser-known fish species in a given environment. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the fish species linked with various freshwater habitats in order to plan production and successful exploitation strategies. The goal of the current study is to better understand the fish diversity in Khudiya Dam between 2023 and 2024. The distance between this dam and Lormi Village in Mungeli District is 20 kilometers. Thirty fish species from five orders and ten families were observed in the current study.