HYDERABAD: Telangana state government has declared ‘Channa Striatus’ (Murrel Fish) as the state fish.
Orders to this effect were issued on Wednesday. The state government had already announced its state animal, bird and other symbols in the past. Now, it has declared Murrel fish as the state fish.
The murrel (Channa striatus), is a species of snakehead fish. It is popular among asthma patients, as Hyderabad’s Bathina family provides fish prasadam using live murrel fish.
Meanwhile, the state government issued guidelines on par with Central government’s guidelines to restrict and regulate exotic fish culture - Tilapia in water bodies so as to conserve the indigenous aquatic diversity.
An expert committee on animal and fish biodiversity suggested the state government to restrict or regulate the exotic fish culture like Tilapia (Oreochromis mossabicus) so as to conserve the indigenous aquatic diversity in the water bodies of Telangana.
According to the guidelines issued by the fisheries department on Wednesday, the district level committee is responsible for registration of new fish ponds, farms to permit Tilapia fish nursery or farming in fresh water.
The farms which have already obtained permission from the DLC and if the farmer is interested in taking up Tilapia fish culture, he/she shall apply to the District Fisheries Officer (DFO) concerned. The District Fisheries Officer, in turn, will inspect the farm and certify that required bio-security measures have been made in the farm.