Maharashtra has launched a project to eliminate alien fish such as the African Catfish, Tilapia and Suckermouth Catfish from the Ujani dam reservoir and replace them with native freshwater species like the Deccan Mahseer. This is the government’s first attempt to rid an ecosystem of invasive species.
Located on the Bhima river in Solapur district, the Ujani dam has a storage capacity of 117 TMC (thousand million cubic feet). It is a major source of water for households and irrigation. Its backwaters serve as a bird-watching site. The reservoir is also a major source of fish.
However, studies by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have shown a deterioration in the dam’s water quality due to untreated sewage and chemical effluents. Also, the presence of invasive alien species, such as the Tilapia, African Catfish and Suckermouth Catfish have led to local fish species, such as Kovra Shivda, Shengal, Sumbhar, Valanj, Salat, Phek, Ambali, Gugli, Shilan and Aher, being affected, putting pressure on the livelihoods of local fishermen.
While the Suckermouth Fish is an aquarium species that found its way into the dam, the African Catfish and Tilapia were released into the waters to boost inland fishing. The scaly and spiny Suckerfish has no market value. It is known as a predator, feeding on other fish and their eggs. This leads to native species of fish being threatened.
Solapur district collector Karthikeyan S. said they have launched a project to rid the dam of alien fish species and revive the aquatic ecosystem since around 85 per cent of the native species had been lost. “Usually, fishermen throw these fish back into the waters when they find them entangled in their nets. We are launching collection centres for fishermen to hand over these fish, which will be used for manufacturing fish fertiliser, which is rich in potassium,” said Karthikeyan. The district administration is inviting fertiliser units to set up their manufacturing in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Solapur.
The second phase will see the use of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to eliminate invasive fish species. This technology will be imported from Norway. The subsequent stages will cover the elimination of breeds like Tilapia and introduction of the Deccan Mahseer into the waters. Referred to as the ‘Tiger of the Waters’, the Deccan Mahseer is native to the Deccan Plateau and a prized catch. It is expected to boost the incomes of local fishermen.
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Published By:
Shyam Balasubramanian
Published On:
May 13, 2026 18:57 IST