Context: The black-spotted croaker, or the ghol fish — considered a fisherman’s lottery — was declared the state fish of Gujarat.
Why Declare a State Fish?
- Every state can declare a state fish.
- Reasons for Gujarat:
- Uniqueness of the fish species. This fish is not easily available. Catches that are reported are far and few between.
- The second factor is the economic value of the fish.
- The government felt the need to conserve it and prevent it from over-exploitation.
About the Ghol Fish
- IUCN Conservation Status: Near Threatened
- Importance of Ghol Fish:
- Considered a delicacy in many countries. Hence it is in high demand in international markets. The meat of the fish is exported as frozen fillet or whole fish to European and Middle Eastern countries.
- It is a marine fish.
- It’s air bladder - is mainly exported to China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries where it is in high demand for its medicinal values.
- Distribution & Habitat
- The blackspotted croaker has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution from the Persian Gulf east into the Pacific Ocean where it extends north to Japan and south to northern Australia.
- It is found in coastal waters, usually no deeper than 60 m (200 ft), over mud substrates. It occasionally enters estuaries and the tidal reaches of rivers.