Fisheries constitute an important component of food security, employment generation, rural livelihoods, nutritional security and aquatic ecosystem functioning. However, increasing fishing pressure, habitat degradation, pollution, alteration of river flows, destructive fishing practices, invasive species, climate change and unregulated exploitation have contributed to declines in many indigenous fish populations. Indigenous fish species are particularly important because they form integral components of aquatic food webs, support ecosystem stability and provide nutritional and economic benefits to local communities. Their decline can therefore have consequences extending beyond fisheries production to biodiversity conservation and community livelihoods. This article examines the principles, challenges and strategies associated with sustainable fisheries management and the conservation of indigenous fish species, with particular emphasis on India. The study adopts a review-based approach using scientific literature, institutional reports and international fisheries-management frameworks. The review highlights the importance of ecosystem-based fisheries management, protection of spawning and nursery grounds, regulation of fishing effort, selective fishing gear, seasonal and spatial fishing restrictions, habitat restoration, conservation breeding, genetic resource management, community participation and scientific monitoring. The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries emphasizes maintaining fishery resources, preventing overfishing, conserving associated species and protecting critical aquatic habitats. India's exceptionally diverse freshwater, brackishwater and marine ecosystems support numerous indigenous fish species. Recent research has emphasized the need for species-specific conservation strategies, including both in situ and ex situ conservation, improved genetic-resource management and targeted conservation programmes. Sustainable fisheries management should therefore integrate ecological conservation with the socioeconomic needs of fishing communities. The article concludes that long-term conservation of indigenous fish diversity requires a participatory, science-based and ecosystem-oriented management framework.

Keywords: Sustainable fisheries; indigenous fish; fish biodiversity; conservation; ecosystem approach; inland fisheries; habitat restoration; climate change; community participation; India.