Gujarat gets a state fish: Why ghol, the ‘fisherman’s lottery’, was chosen
- November 23, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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
Source: Indian Express