Breeding of African catfish continues in Kolar despite ban

Members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) on Tuesday staged a protest in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office demanding complete implementation of the ban on breeding of African catfish in the district.

As a mark of protest against authorities concerned, the functionaries took the African catfish to the protest venue.

The African catfish is not eco-friendly, it causes ecological imbalance and not fit for human consumption, KRRS district convener

K. Srinivasa Gowda said.

Some people are engaged in breeding of this breed of fish in the district, which is a causing concern, he said. “Officials of Fisheries Department have turned a blind eye to this fact. The officials are hand in glove with the acqua-culturists who are breeding African catfish,” the organisation alleged in a memorandum submitted to the district administration.

Breeding of African catfish is a blatant violation of a Supreme Court order, the protesters said.

Raju, Deputy Director of Fisheries Department, assured that steps will be taken to stop breeding of the fish.