Freshwater lakes serve as important ecological units supporting fish diversity and providing livelihood resources to local communities. The present investigation documents the ichthyofaunal composition of Pendur Lake, a man-made freshwater lake located in Malvan Taluka of Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. The lake covers an area of approximately 21 hectares with an average depth of about 4 m and is primarily utilized for irrigation. Fish sampling was conducted from different zones of the lake using gill nets, bag nets, and drag nets to ensure comprehensive coverage. Collected specimens were preserved in 5% formalin and identified based on external morphological characters using standard taxonomic keys and published literature.A total of 15 fish species belonging to 14 genera, 11 families, and 9 orders were recorded from the study area. Conservation status assessment based on the IUCN Red List revealed that 13 species fall under the Least Concern category, while Ompok bimaculatus and Anguilla bengalensis are categorized as Near Threatened. The occurrence of near-threatened species indicates the ecological importance of Pendur Lake and emphasizes the need for conservation attention. The fish diversity of the lake is influenced by anthropogenic pressures such as habitat alteration, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change.The present study provides baseline information on the ichthyofaunal diversity of Pendur Lake, which can be useful for future biodiversity assessments, fisheries management, and conservation planning in freshwater ecosystems of the Konkan region.
