Kitchen to court orders: double life of Catfish in Karnataka | Bharat News

In markets with coastal and malanad regions of Karnataka, a fish attracts attention like another: Mugudu, or Murugodu, which is internationally known as catfish. For decades, this slippery sweet water has been a precious delicateness, nurtured by the local people, who still buy it whenever they spot it. Nevertheless, there is a story hidden behind its popularity that completely prevents the winds between Pak love, ecological threat and a government ban.

Gusta

To separate Mugudu fish, it is not just a taste but almost mythological survival skills. Unlike most fish, when the water disappears, Mugudu cannot do anything, but there is soil after mud after mud after streams and ponds.

This ability enhances endless attraction: How does a fish breathe in mud without water? The mystery lies in its ability to absorb oxygen from the wind, allowing it to survive where other species will be destroyed.

Slippery body, elusive grip

In order to hunt these fish, hunters such as Herons, Stork and Crows often dig poles into dirty pools. But holding Mugudu is not an easy achievement. Its jelly -like, slippery skin becomes almost impossible to catch. Human beings face the same challenge; Bare hand simply slide from the fish surface.

For this reason, the traditional hand holder rarely works. Instead, fishermen rely on the net to secure them. Their habitat is usually muddy backwater and freshwater pools that are formed after rain, where they filter and feed nutrients from the mud directly.

Mugudu’s demand is so strong that it costs more continuously. In coastal cities of Karnataka, one kilogram sells for about 200 rupees, and some individual fish weigh anywhere between two and ten kilograms.

For the families of the region, Mugudu Curry or Fry Preparation is a cure immersed in tradition. Fish is considered to be both filling and delicious, which explains why buyers ignore expenses.

There is a restriction that some command

But here is the twist: Despite the rich trade, Mugudu has been officially banned in India since 2000. The Department of Fisheries has banned its consumption and sale after studies, as its disastrous effects have been detected on aquatic ecosystems.

As a non -vegetarian species, the catfish feeds on other small fish, amphibians and aquatic life. In lakes and rivers where they thrive, they often run native species on the edge of extinction. Their ability to survive in mud means that they dominate ecosystems that cannot do other fish.

The restriction is not only about protecting biodiversity; It is also about the protection of human health. Catfish contains high levels of toxic elements that can damage the body, especially the heart.

The practices of farming have also raised the alarm. In many cases, the catfish is abandoned poultry waste and meat, which contaminates both fish and the environment. Consumption of such fish can lead to long -term health consequences, with them at greater risk than their popularity.

Reality of illegal sales

Despite the ban, Mugudu continues to slip through the enforcement mesh. Reports of raids on illegal ponds and seizure of trucks transporting catfish are common. Nevertheless, in markets across Karnataka, fish are available, often quietly but openly sold to curious buyers.

Fishermen argue that the demand is very strong, and enforcement is very weak, to be completely successful for the ban. For many people, Mugudu is a less prohibited hold and a part of cultural identity, bound by taste and tradition that refuses to fade.

The story of Mugudu fish captures the contradictions of human hunger. On one hand, it is a cultural fragility, the taste of the coast and hills that brings communities together on a shared food. On the other hand, it is an ecological invader and a health threat.

For now, its fate is in a gray zone – officially restricted, but informally prosperous. For those who crave it, Mugudu is more than a fish; It is a plate, indifference, taste and disregard served on slippery.