Gujarat gets a state fish: Why ghol, the ‘fisherman’s lottery’, was chosen

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

The black-spotted croaker, or the ghol fish — considered a fisherman’s lottery — was declared the state fish of Gujarat.
It has been chosen as the state fish because of its economic value and its uniqueness.
Some other fish species found on the Gujarat coast: Ribbon fish, pomfret, and Bombay Duck.

About Ghol fish or Black-spotted croaker:

The black-spotted croaker (Protonibeadiacanthus), also known in Australia as the black jewfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers.
It is the only species in the monospecific genus Protonibea.
The fish is usually found in the Indo-Pacific region that stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean.
It is an expensive fish and is used for medicinal purposes.
It has a huge market in China and other countries.
- While the meat of the fish is exported as frozen fillet or whole fish to European and Middle-Eastern countries, its air bladder — which is cut open from the stomach and dried — is mainly exported to China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries where it is in high demand for its medicinal values.
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened