Boko, June 18 : The Fisheries Department of the Assam Government on Thursday launched a major crackdown against the illegal cultivation and sale of banned Thai catfish, seizing and destroying nearly seven quintals of the invasive fish at Poyranga in Boko.
The operation was led by Fisheries Officer Mondip Saikia of the Chhaygaon Development Block and marks the beginning of a district-wide enforcement drive across Kamrup district against the farming of Thai catfish.
Officials said the species poses a serious threat to indigenous fish populations by disrupting breeding cycles and damaging the ecological balance of local water bodies. To protect native aquatic biodiversity, the department has warned that legal action will be initiated against those found cultivating or selling the banned fish.
Nearly seven quintals of Thai catfish were seized during the operation and destroyed by burying them in pits with salt.
The crackdown is backed by a nationwide prohibition on Thai catfish farming. The National Green Tribunal banned its cultivation in 2000, citing environmental and health concerns. Despite the ban, illegal farming of the species has continued in pockets of Assam and other parts of the country.
Thai catfish is considered an invasive species that threatens indigenous varieties such as Borali, Puthi and Khalihna. Authorities also expressed concern over potential health risks associated with the consumption of fish reared under unhygienic conditions.
The Fisheries Department has intensified district-level enforcement to ensure compliance with the ban, signalling the government’s resolve to protect Assam’s aquatic ecosystems and conserve native fish species.
