Catfish sold in abundance in district

Coimbatore: Fishermen in the district continue to rear and sell African catfish in abundance in markets despite collector K Rajamani issuing a warning against it two months ago.
One of the fishermen, who was fishing in Perur lake, said, “Catfishes are easily available in all the lakes and rivers in Coimbatore even during the drought season as they are capable of surviving even in sludge. We could easily get up to 10kg of catfish per day in any lake. A kilogram of catfish is sold for Rs 100.”
People prefer catfish as it does not have bones and taste differently. Fishermen sell their catch to retailers who would sell them in markets.
Catfish fetches good income for fishermen as they eat small fishes and its growth, survival and breeding rate is high compared to other fishes.
“At times, we used to purchase hatchlings of catfish along with other fishes from neighboring states and leave them in tanks. Within a month or two, we would be able to catch big fishes which weigh over 2kg. But other fishes like catla and rohu takes months to grow and most of the times, it will not gain weight as catfishes do,” said another fisherman on condition of anonymity.
He said they used to rear catfishes in tanks to get more fishes within a few months, but now they get fishes in abundance in lakes.
While experts see catfishes as a threat to native fishes and biodiversity, fishermen knew nothing about the ban on breeding, transporting or selling of catfishes that was implemented by the central government in 2000 or about the recent warning from the district collector.
In its order in January 2019, the National Green Tribunal said, “The breeding and culturing of exotic catfish or its hybrids are prohibited in all the states and Union territories. The existing stock will be destroyed forthwith. District collectors or district commissioners will have to take necessary action by forming teams comprising officials of fisheries department.”
Based on the direction, the district collector has issued a warning to those who have been producing catfishes. He said the district administration would initiate criminal proceedings against them.
When contacted, the collector said he would investigate it.