Fresh-water aquatic ecosystems, especially rivers are the most threatened biome globally. Rivers and their biodiversity and ecosystem services are relatively under-valued and neglected, exposed to pollution, habitat degradation and over-exploitation. The few remaining free-flowing rivers and streams are under serious threat of transformations such as upstream abstraction to meet human demands especially for irrigation and their flow regimes are altered by hydro-power dams and reservoir operations. Unsustainable fishing practices (electro-fishing, dynamiting, poisoning) have replaced traditional practices and this poses severe threats to many species of economic and ecological value. Knowledge gaps about the conservation status of riverine biodiversity; taxonomic uncertainty; spawning sites and lack of stakeholder participation makes conserving freshwater biodiversity a difficult enterprise.
However, recent success of community co-managed Fish Conservation Zones in the Indo-Burma hotspot not only provides an alternate approach to conserve fish and fish habitat, it also provides sustainable livelihood opportunities to local fisher communities. FCZ regulations typically designate an area in the community’s local waterways that will be closed to all fishing. These community co-managed protected areas generally have large support among local people, who recognize the value of preserving fish populations for their future generations to harvest. FCZs can particularly benefit fish populations if they protect habitat that is important for fish spawning.