Catfish refers to a diverse group of ray-finned freshwater fish, comprising of over 3400 species across 34-44 families. This group comes under Phylum Chordata and Class Actinopterygii. Catfish are found in each and every continent, except Antarctica. Highest diversity of catfish is found in South America. Catfishes are mainly found in freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers and streams, with some species present in marine or brackish environments as well.
Catfish range widely in size, right from the largest species like the Mekong giant catfish and wels catfish to the tiny ectoparasitic species like candiru. Physical characteristics of catfish include a cylindrical body, no scales or bony scutes, Weberian apparatus for detecting vibrations and small eyes. Catfish are so named for their prominent barbles which resembles cat’s whiskers, even though not all catfish species have prominent barbles.
Legal Status in India
African Catfish or Thai Magur is banned in India. In the year 2000, the National Green Tribunal banned the farming and sales of Thai Magur in India. The decision to ban Thai Magur was taken on account of ecological, environmental and health concerns.
As per a research, Thai Magur is responsible for 70% reduction in native fish species in India. This is because Thai Magur are invasive and outcompete and prey on native fish species, thereby harming the aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, fish farmers in India adopt unhygienic practices to rear Thai Magur. These practices include feeding rotting meat mixed with spinach, bits of slaughtered birds and leftover kitchen scraps to the fish. Consequently, consuming Thai Magur can lead to a number of grave health issues, including cancer.
However, the ban is not applicable on native catfish species like Clarias Batrachus or Magur, which are permitted to be reared and sold under certain conditions.
Ban Enforcement
Despite the ban on African Catfish or Thai Magur, illegal farming and sales continue in states where the enforcement of the ban is weak. This is because African Catfish can feed on anything and survive even in harsh conditions, thereby making it easy to cultivate. Moreover, growing this species of catfish is profitable due to its high demand on account of being cheaper as compared to other kinds of seafood.
In January 2021, the fisheries department of the Government of Uttar Pradesh destroyed 15 tonnes of Thai Magur in Varanasi. In September 2020, the Government of Uttarakhand took action against several fish farmers for illegally farming Thai Magur in the state. Maharashtra Government had destroyed 32 tonnes of Thai Magur in the state by 2020.
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