PALAKKAD: When you see a pack of street dogs wandering around a pond or flies swarming it, don’t be perplexed as it may not be an isolated sight. It could be ‘by-product’ of a new technique developed by some wily fish farmers to reap a good harvest from a highly carnivorous fish breed known as African mushi (Clarias gariepinus) which not only feeds on native indigenous varieties of fish and make them extinct but turns the ponds into a chicken and meat waste disposal yard.
The Fisheries Department has issued a circular banning the rearing of African mushi due to its instinct to devour all native varieties of fish. Revenue Divisional Officer, K Selvaraj, says: “The administration was forced to intervene when it became a public nuisance. At the district development committee meet, K V Vijayadas, MLA, raised the issue of pollution and unhygienic conditions at these places.”
■ Mushi can survive in slushy and marshy areas
■ They feed on native indigenous varieties of fish
■ The Fisheries Department has issued a circular banning the rearing of African mushi
Based on a complaint by a member of the Kozhinjampara panchayat who alleged that the slaughter houses were paying the farmers for lifting the waste generated there which had resulted in the dumping of waste near the ponds, the administration had issued a notice to a few farmers in Kozhinjampara stating that the rearing of African Mushi had been banned by the Union Fisheries Ministry.
At that time, the State Government was yet to issue any circular banning rearing of this fish species and therefore the circular of the Centre was cited. He said the Department of Animal Husbandary and Fisheries attached to the Ministry of Agriculture had constituted a national committee under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary (Fisheries) to oversee and regulate the introduction of exotic acquatic organisms into Indian waters. It had requested all the State Governments on December 19,1997 to initiate steps to destroy the existing stocks of exotic magur (Clarius gariepinus) and the big head fish which had been introduced in the country without official permission.
The farmers, who were served the notice, in turn, secured a stay from the district court. In the case pending at the court, the secretary of the Kozhinjampara panchayat is the first respondent and the public prosecutor, the second respondent.
The notice cited widespread contamination of water sources and health hazard as it could trigger outbreak of epidemics. Copies of the notice were sent to the Sub Inspectors of Kozhinjampara and Chittur police stations , Pollution Control Board and the Junior Health inspector. Later, directions were issued to the Kozhinjampara panchayat secretery to initiate measures to vacate the stay.
“ We usually recommend indigenous varieties to the farmers. The African mushi is highly predatory in nature. These fishes can be grown only where there are slaughter houses as farmers need to spent 60 per cent of the cost on feed. Some farmers had been complaining that they were not able to market the African mushi effectively as many found its taste unpalatable,” said Daisy Kappen, Associate Professor, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi.
Annie Kutty, faculty member of the Department of Marine Biology, Cusat, says: “These fishes are a threat to the eco system. If they are reared in protected areas separately, then it’s safe. They are not harmful to human body as such.”
