Kakinada, June 25, 2021: Two fishermen from Kakinada in East Godavari district have hit the jackpot when they fetched Rs 5 lakh for two normal-size `goldfish’ they caught in the Bay of Bengal.
Local people call this fish, black spotted croaker (Protonibea dicanthus). It is nicknamed `gold fish’ not because of its colour but because the high price it commands in the market.
It is believed that the fish possesses medicinal value. It is generally purchased by pharma companies for its air sac or air bladder.
Local fisherman Singaraju has netted one fish and a trader has bought it for Rs 2.60 lakh in the auction which was conducted on the seashore. Another fisherman, Jagannadham, has caught goldfish and sold it for Rs 2.40 lakh in the auction which was held at Kumbhabhishekam shore.
Talking to the TOI, additional director, fisheries, East Godavari, P Koteswara Rao, said the gall bladder and the flesh of this fish are used in pharma industry.
‘Fish usually found in Sunderbans, B’desh’
The fish is prized in East Asia for the medicinal properties of its internal organs. The highest grade fish is procured by countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Japan according to the reports published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
He said that this fish is normally found in Sunderbans and Bangladesh coast and found occasionally in AP. “Due to the commercial value that the fish commands, fishermen try hard to catch it,” he added.
Koteswara Rao said that two fish that were caught weigh about five kilograms. He added that fully grown adult measures about one metre and female fish measures about 1.10 metre and weighs about 30 kilograms. He said that there was an instance when this fish was sold out for over Rs 16 lakh in Maharashtra.
The fish is prized in East Asia for the medicinal properties of its internal organs. The highest grade fish is procured by countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Japan. The most expensive known catch of a black spotted croaker was made by two Indian fishermen near the Mumbai-Palghar coastline. The fish weighing 30 kg. The value varies according to the size and thickness of the fish’s internal organs.
