The black-spotted croaker, or the ghol fish — considered a fisherman’s lottery — was declared the state fish of Gujarat.
The Gujarat government chose the ghol because of its economic value and its uniqueness.
The fish is usually found in the Indo-Pacific region that stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean.
The declaration will enable Gujarat to be a part of its conservation efforts.
Selecting a state fish is a consultative process with representatives of all the districts. Ribbon fish, pomfret, and Bombay Duck were the other species that were considered for designation as state fish.
The fish is actually a lottery for fishermen who manage to net it. The fish is not only tasty, it is considered a delicacy in many countries. In others, it is used for medicinal purposes.
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.
Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing (NETFISH), a registered society formed under the aegis of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) of the the government.
During the year 2021-22, the total fish production of Gujarat was estimated at 8.74 lakh tonne, worth Rs 11,221 crore. Of this, 2.3 lakh tonne of fish and fish products worth Rs 5,233 crore were exported.
