HYDERABAD: Customs officials caught two persons transporting ‘catfish’ from Kolkata to Bidar in Karnataka at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday.
The duo had packed closed to 1 lakh cat fish seedlings in 44 boxes which were unloaded from a flight that arrived from Kolkata. The consignment was to be transported to Bidar in Karnataka by road from the city.
During a routine checking, officials found a large number of boxes and opened them, only to find fish inside. Customs officials have sought help of the fisheries department who then identified it as ‘catfish’.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the seedlings were meant to be sold to fish farms in Karnataka. Customs officials said catfish sale/transport is banned in India.
Fisheries department officials said that catfish — also known as African catfish — is highly dangerous and poses health issues. “It is a sea fish, but is reared commercially for the huge profits it brings to farmers. Catfish is not suitable for human consumption as it feeds on carcasses of animals and birds,” said a senior official.
Catfish grows fast, as much as 6 kg in one year. It is usually sold to big hoteliers and catering agencies for its large size.
“A joint team of police, revenue and fisheries department conducts raids and seizes catfish when information is received. It survives mostly on animal flesh. Catfish will even bite into a human leg if a person steps into a tank to feed it,” said Sri Shankar Goud, joint director of the fisheries department.
