What is Ghol Fish?

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Ghol fish?
• What are the benefits of Ghol fish?
• News Summary: Gujarat gets a state fish
• Why was the Ghol chosen?
• What is the commercial importance of this fish species?
• How much fish does Gujarat export?

Why in news?

• The black-spotted croaker, or the Ghol fish — considered a fisherman’s lottery — was declared the state fish of Gujarat.

Ghol fish

• About
  • It is a rare and expensive marine species.
  • From iodine, omega-3, DHA, EPA, iron, taurine, magnesium, fluoride, to selenium, it is loaded with rich nutrients.
  • The fish is usually found in the Indo-Pacific region that stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Pacific Ocean.
• Length
  • The length of the Ghol fish is around one-and-a-half meters. The longer the Ghol fish, the higher its price.
    • The price of the Ghol fish per unit length can go up to Rs 5 lakh.
• In India
  • Ghol fish is one of the largest fish found in India. It is found in the marine areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra in a golden-brown colour.
• Called as ‘Sea Gold’
  • What makes this fish to be called as ‘Sea Gold’ is a pouch in its stomach, which has potent medicinal properties and has a high valuation in the overseas market.

Benefits of Ghol fish

• Good for eye health: This fish contains many vitamins, minerals, proteins, which helps in maintaining eyesight.
• Prevent ageing and wrinkles: The collagen content in the ghol fish prevents wrinkles and also keeps the elasticity of the skin intact.
• Improves IQ of infants: Omega-3 content in it improves IQ of infants if fed on a regular basis – it stimulates the growth of brain cells.
• Toning muscles
• Economic value
  • The fish is in demand because of its meat and air bladder (sold separately.).
  • Ghol fish is used to make beer and wine and its air bladder is used in pharmaceuticals.

News Summary: Gujarat gets a state fish

Why was the Ghol chosen?

• The Gujarat government chose the ghol because of its economic value and its uniqueness. The declaration will enable Gujarat to be a part of its conservation efforts. There is need to conserve it and prevent it from over-exploitation.

What is the commercial importance of this fish species?

• Being an expensive fish, the local consumption of this variety is not widely heard of. But the fish has a huge market in China and other countries.
• The fish is not only tasty, it is considered a delicacy in many countries. In others, it is used for medicinal purposes.
• The meat of the fish is exported as frozen fillet or whole fish to European and Middle-Eastern countries.
• Its air bladder — which is cut open from the stomach and dried — is mainly exported to China, Hong Kong and other Asian countries where it is in high demand for its medicinal values.

How much fish does Gujarat export?

• During the year 2021-22, the total fish production of Gujarat was estimated at 8.74 lakh tonne, worth Rs 11,221 crore.
• Of this, 2.3 lakh tonne of fish and fish products worth Rs 5,233 crore were exported.

Q1) What is Omega-3 fatty acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that are essential nutrients for the body. The body can't produce enough omega-3s to survive, so they must come from food.

Q2) What is croaker fish?

Croaker fish are members of the Sciaenidae family of drums. They are named for the croaking sound they make when removed from water. This sound is caused by the contraction of muscles attached to the air bladder, which acts as a resonance chamber.

Source: Gujarat gets a state fish: Why ghol, the ‘fisherman’s lottery’, was chosen| India Today