The book ‘The Beauty and the Bounty at Risk’ is the first e-book on small-scale fisheries in Nepal. This book has twenty-nine stories of fishes, fisheries and fishers of Nepal, which are written by experts, early career scientists and students of the B.Sc. Fisheries and M.Sc. Fisheries in the Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur... The book offers insights of different aspects of the small-scale fisheries such as fishing technology, socio-economics, environmental issues, and governance. It has covered fisheries in different water mass, both stagnant (lake, pond, reservoir, wetland) and running water (river, stream), and cold-water and warm-water from mid hills and Terai (plain area). The book also highlights cross cutting issues such as women empowerment, climate change and its impacts on aquatic biodiversity, and the need for conservation. Finally, the book explores the challenges, opportunities and visions, which are useful for future development of fisheries. I believe that the book will be helpful to draw the attention of policy makers and researchers, and promote sustainable, equitable and resilient fisheries in the country.
Sunila Rai
Professor of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal
“It was more than two years ago already when we were in Nepal, at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), talking with a group of students, who excitedly shared with us their research about small-scale fisheries in the country. As we discussed the plans for e-book with the editors, the students at that time must have been wondering if we were serious when we asked them to be the authors and contributors of the book. We are therefore extremely proud that many of them have done just that, which makes the book, The Beauty and the Bounty at Risk, a very special and unique volume…
It has been a joy to work with the editors in the production of the ebook, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with them and the authors, in keeping the stories about inland fisheries in Nepal alive in everyone’s mind. Now that we know about the history and the experience of fishers, their practices and livelihood, and policy, governance and welfare, from reading the book, we can think about what we can do individually and collectively to help promote the importance and values of inland fisheries in Nepal, and elsewhere.”
Ratana Chuenpagdee
TBTI Global
The book is available for free, as an e-book in two sizes: smaller (15MB) and larger (200MB).
Click on the buttons below to download the e-book.
About the editors
Ranju Ghimire is an active member of the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Nepal Hub, committed to promoting the recognition and resilience of small-scale fisheries. She holds an M.Sc. Fisheries (Aquatic Resources) degree from Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. Her post-study work has focused on e-Book material collection, and editing, content development on fisherfolk livelihoods, fishery digitalization and advocacy for small-scale fisheries. Known for her sound coordination and editorial skills, she remains dedicated to building inclusive networks for small-scale fisheries at university and national levels. She hopes this e-book helps understand and appreciate stories of small-scale fisheries in Nepal.
Nelson Pokhrel is a dedicated Senior Fisheries Development Officer and PhD Scholar at Kathmandu University of Nepal. With over a decade of professional experience in aquaculture and fisheries management, she has served in key roles across multiple governmental organizations, including the Department of Agriculture and the Directorate of Livestock and Fisheries Development. Her expertise spans program planning, aquaculture system development, fish health management, riverine and lake fisheries and cage culture innovations. Academically, she holds an MSc in Aquaculture. She has co-authored research on ichthyofaunal diversity in Nepal. She has contributed to publishing farmers friendly technical books, brochure and leaflets as well.
Thaneshwar Bhandari is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His PhD research focuses on fishery value chain analysis across major production and marketing hubs in Nepal and India. He has contributed to national and international studies on fisheries competitiveness, welfare assessment, and trade dynamics, and has authored works on flood and erosion impacts, supply chain management, profitability, climate-smart agriculture and trade liberalization. Bhandari actively promotes evidence-based policymaking to strengthen small-scale fisheries and has presented his research at national and global forums. More about him can be found at https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7474-2803
Dr. Tek Bahadur Gurung is a renowned fisheries and aquaculture specialist with extensive experience in small-scale fisheries, rainbow trout and other commercial aquaculture. A Fulbright Scholar at the University of Missouri–Columbia, he earned his Doctor of Science from Kyoto University, Japan. He currently serves as Deputy Chief of Party at Corus International and Adjunct Professor at Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. Formerly Executive Director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Dr. Gurung has received the International Kasumigaura Lake Prize for lake restoration and the NABIL–NAST Award for developing Nepal’s trout industry. He has also contributed internationally as an aquaculture consultant in Sri Lanka.
TBTI Global Book Series
This publication series aims to highlight why we need to pay close attention to small-scale fisheries. The series will be of use to anyone interested in learning more about small-scale fisheries, especially about their important contribution to livelihoods, well-being, poverty alleviation and food security, as well as to those who are keen to help raise profile of small-scale fisheries in the policy realm.
How to Cite
Ghimire, R., Pokhrel, N., Bhandari, T., and Gurung, T. B. (Eds.). 2024. The Beauty and the Bounty at Risk: Small-Scale Fisheries of Nepal. TBTI Global Publication Series. St. John’s, Canada.