Hyderabad: On Sunday morning, fishermen at Cherlapally Lake in Hyderabad, Telangana, did something strange. They netted hundreds of a certain species of fish from the lake, piled them on the shore, and set them on fire.
Something very strange for fishermen to do. But, they were sending out a chilling message about an invasive species of catfish that is out to destroy the ecosystem of water bodies along the country’s east coast and destroy the livelihoods of those engaged in fishing.
This is the Armoured Sailfin Catfish, known as the Rakashi or ‘Devil’s Fish’. Burning these fish was the last stand for hundreds of small-time fishermen and their families belonging to the Cherlapally Mudiraj Mathsya Parishramika Sahakara Sangam, who now find their livelihoods threatened.
The Rakashi were not there always. They were introduced recently.
“A few months ago, government authorities gave us some fish hatchlings, and we released them in the lake with a lot of hope,” Eega Satyanarayana and Vijaykumar, the president and secretary of the Cherlapally Fishermen’s Welfare Association said.
“However, the Rakashi fish somehow made its way in its larval form. There are no freshwater native fish here anymore, just hundreds of these Rakashi. What is our way out, if not to burn them?” they asked.
The Hyderabad-based Laboratory of Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), CCMB, has provided crucial insights on the devastating impact of this invasive species on lake ecosystems.
CCMB research reveals alarming spread of this species, which was originally introduced to India for the ornamental fish trade and its ability to clean aquariums. It has now proliferated to an estimated 60 to 65 per cent of water bodies in the Eastern Ghats, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, severely disrupting native ecosystems by preying on local fish and consuming vital oxygen.
Rakashi are voracious omnivores, consuming native fish species, fish eggs and even dead carcasses, severely disrupting the natural food web ecosystem, directly reducing native fish populations. They consume significant amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water, creating low oxygen conditions, detrimental to other aquatic life.
Rakashi are known for their formidable, sharp spines and robust armoured bodies. When caught, they can damage fishing nets. However, while they are large, they do not have any commercial value and bring no incentives for fishermen.
