The Jharkhand government on Wednesday declared the indigenous Desi Magur (Clarias Magur) as the official State Fish, marking a step toward conservation and recognition of native aquatic species. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
According to Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel, the proposal was approved following a recommendation from the ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow, which had earlier requested Jharkhand to follow other states in designating the native Magur as a state symbol. The move aims to promote awareness, protection, and sustainable breeding of the species across the state’s water bodies.
Desi Magur, a hardy freshwater catfish found in ponds and rivers across eastern India, is known for its high nutritional value and adaptability. Over the years, its population has declined due to habitat degradation, overfishing, and the spread of hybrid and non-native varieties. Declaring it as the state fish is expected to encourage scientific breeding, local aquaculture development, and conservation-based livelihood programmes.
Officials from the Fisheries Department said efforts will now focus on identifying key habitats, setting up hatcheries, and discouraging the farming of hybrid Magur, which threatens native populations. The state also plans to integrate Desi Magur promotion into rural livelihood and fishery missions under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries.
The Cabinet’s decision places Jharkhand among the states that have adopted native species as ecological and cultural symbols, reinforcing the government’s broader environmental and biodiversity conservation agenda.