Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Abstract

Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton, 1822), A Threatened Fish of Indian Subcontinent

Sandipan Gupta *

Pangasius pangasius is a catfish species which is widely distributed in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Malaya-peninsula, Indonesia, Vietnam, Java and Thailand. It is a popular food fish as having good taste with high protein, mineral and fat content in its flesh. It is also a popular game fish and recently has got its entry in ornamental fish markets too. Pangasius pangasius is very hardy in nature; has high tolerance for temperature, salinity and turbidity; but due to over exploitation, habitat degradation, water pollution, destruction of the breeding grounds etc. natural populations of this fish species are facing the threat of extinction and its now high time to take proper measures on serious note to conserve its natural population. The present report has been prepared with the aim to sum up the available information on different aspects of Pangasius pangasius along with noting down the possible measures that should be taken into consideration for its conservation.