Invasive fishes are being released in water bodies for mosquito control, NGT has sought a response from the Centre

Invasive and exotic aquatic fish species are being released in India's ponds and rivers for bio-control for mosquito breeding suppression. There has been a petition filed in NGT in relation to it, for which a notice has been sent to the Central Government and a reply is being sought. As per the petition, two species of fish, namely, Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish) and Poecilia reticulata (Guppy), are being released in water bodies in a number of states.

This petition has been filed by the Invasive Species Expert Group. The petition states that both these fish species have been declared invasive and exotic and they harm the local aquatic ecosystem. This may lead to a shortage of food for local fish species. In Australia and New Zealand, mosquito fish is even banned. According to the petition, mosquito fish is among the 100 most dangerous fish species in the world. The petition states that mosquito fish have been released in water bodies of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Guppy species of fish were released in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, and Odisha.

On the petition, a bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel has issued a notice to the Central Government in its order dated January 24. In this case, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Biodiversity Authority, and National Vector Borne Disease Control Center will file a reply on behalf of the Central Government. NGT will hear the matter next on May 6.