Editorial
African catfish
A threat to local species?
Fish has been one of our main sources of protein supply, so much so that it has become a part and parcel of our daily diet. Compared to other sources of protein, however, fish has been the worst hit. Today we face a situation where output of fish is outstripped by increasing levels of consumption. Basically, fish resources are depleting due to some geo-morphological factors. Already the once self-reliant fish-endowed Bangladeshi market sees imported sweet water fish on sale. African catfish has been termed by our fishery experts as a 'predator' allegedly posing a threat to some traditional varieties of fishes in ponds and brackish water bodies. Apparently, this variety of fish was first introduced in Bangladesh as early as 1953. Although the government a few years ago had banned its cultivation, it is learnt, the same continues to grow as private enterprise. Of late, however, it has found its way into city sewerage where it seems to be growing in unusual sizes. This is becoming not only a threat to our environment but also posing a health hazard to our city dwellers. The so-called 'predator' is also alleged to have caused physical harm to some children while they were taking bath in ponds where the fish was raised. Since this fish is being cultivated in ponds and brackish waters it should not be too difficult for the Directorate of Fisheries to be monitoring and regulating its procreation. The introduction the cultivation of the African catfish some 50 years ago and their proliferation to-date give rise to sufficient grounds for the authorities to make a scientific study of the situation and inform the public of the steps contemplated by the government to contain the particular species of catfish in the interest of public health.
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