Hilsa Fish

About Hilsa Fish:

• It is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae.
• It is also called Ilish, and holds an exceptional position in culinary customs and social practices of Bengal. 
• Distribution: It is found in rivers and estuaries in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar (also known as Burma) and the Persian Gulf area.
• It has a history of migrating to Allahabad in the Ganga river system from Bangladesh.
• Though it’s a saltwater fish, it migrates to sweet waters of the Ganges from the Bay of Bengal.
• Hilsa is into breeding migration in three major river systems of the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra river network viz., Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna.
• Bangladesh produces around 70% of the world's ilish, making it a subject of public pride. Ilish is also the national fish of Bangladesh.
• The kinds of ilish from rivers like Ganga, Hooghly and Mahanadi are no match when it comes to celebrating important events.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least Concern

Q1: What is IUCN?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is a global organization composed of governments, NGOs, scientists, and experts dedicated to conserving nature and promoting sustainability. Its primary role involves assessing the conservation status of species, providing data and analysis on the state of biodiversity worldwide, and offering guidance and frameworks for conservation efforts.

Source: Bangladesh lifts ‘hilsa’ ban, to export 3,000 tonnes of fish to India ahead of Durga Puja