Seafood farmers in India are still cultivating catfish despite orders from the government years ago to shut down the farms and destroy the stocks out of fear that the fish poses a threat to local wildlife.
The Hindu reports that documents it obtained show many farms are still cultivating the fish, known as Clarias gariepinus, or African catfish, in small villages. The fish, according to the Hindu, was introduced to the country without official permission.
The government first issued the ban in 2000, after hearing complaints that the fish could pose a threat to indigenous species. Other complaints alleged the farmers were using chicken waste as a feed, which was contaminating water supplies. The government and high courts ordered all stocks destroyed and the farms shut down.
