Inland Fisheries

9.3.3.4 Aquatic Pollution

Pollution is probably the single most significant factor causing major decline in the population of many fish species. These are causing havoc to the genetic thresholds, which would ultimately lead to permanent damage to genetic resources in addition to their direct toxic effects. Chemical pollution from factories and plants situated in the Nilgiris, Mysore and Coorg have exterminated certain groups of hill steam fishes available in local aquatic habitats. Certain neomacheiline loaches recorded from Bhavani river at Mettupalayam and Coimbatore Districts are no longer available.