Indian administration in Tamil Nadu warned against breeding the banned African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in aquaculture farms and local waterbodies. The National Green Tribunal banned the culture of African catfish, but a few farms reportedly held stocks clandestinely, posing a threat to the ecology, according to local news.

Collector V. Jaya Chandra Bhanu Reddy warned inland aquaculture farmers against breeding the banned fish species that was proved to be invasive, threatening the survival of native fish species. According to the administration, African catfish bred in farms tend to swim out during heavy rain and floods escaping into the general water stream. This will lead to proliferation causing the extinction of other native varieties.

Farmers had been advised to destroy fish that were bred in the farms.

Photo source: FishBase by Larsen, J.H.