Nagpur Officials Raid 11 Ponds, Destroy Over 36 Tonnes Of Banned Thai Mangur

The Fisheries Department in Nagpur has launched a major crackdown on the illegal farming of Thai catfish, commonly known as Thai Mangur, recovering and destroying more than 36 tonnes of the banned fish from 11 ponds in the district. The operation was carried out in the Chicholi-Mahadula area of Parshivni taluka following information that the prohibited species was being illegally cultivated and sold from several ponds in the region.

Officials identified 11 large ponds where Thai Mangur was allegedly being raised in violation of regulations. Before conducting the raids, the Fisheries Department used Google mapping to identify ponds in the area that could potentially be involved in illegal fish farming.

Officials also reportedly used dummy customers to verify information about the alleged cultivation and sale of the banned fish before proceeding with enforcement action. The operation was subsequently carried out with the assistance of 25 local fishermen who were brought in to help remove the fish from the ponds. Fishing nets were used to recover the Thai Mangur, with the teams working across the identified ponds to clear them of the banned species. The scale of the recovery indicated that the fish had been cultivated in substantial quantities across the ponds targeted during the operation.

More than 36 tonnes of Thai Mangur were recovered during the crackdown, according to the Fisheries Department. After being removed from the ponds, the recovered fish was not released or taken for sale. Instead, officials buried the fish in pits and destroyed it as part of the enforcement action. The disposal was carried out after the large quantity of banned fish had been removed from the ponds. The action followed information received by officials about the illegal farming and sale of Thai Mangur in the Chicholi-Mahadula area.

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The use of mapping technology and verification through dummy customers formed part of the department’s efforts to establish information about the alleged illegal activity before the raids were conducted. Such preliminary verification enabled officials to identify specific ponds and organise the operation with local fishing support.

Thai Mangur, a variety of walking catfish associated with the illegal fish trade in India, has been prohibited by authorities because of concerns surrounding its cultivation and potential environmental impact. Enforcement agencies have periodically taken action against illegal farming operations involving the species, particularly where it is being raised commercially despite restrictions.

The Nagpur operation highlights the challenges faced by authorities in monitoring ponds and preventing the cultivation and sale of prohibited fish. The recovery of more than 36 tonnes from 11 ponds makes the latest operation a significant enforcement action by the Fisheries Department in the district.

Officials are continuing to focus on identifying locations where banned fish may be cultivated and verifying reports before taking action. The Nagpur crackdown also demonstrates how authorities are combining digital mapping, field verification and local fishing expertise to detect illegal aquaculture operations and remove prohibited species from ponds.

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