Guwahati: The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Central government concerning the utilization of two highly invasive and non-native fish species as biological agents in mosquito control efforts.
The Tribunal was hearing a plea related to the practice of releasing Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish) and Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) into water bodies across various states in an effort to control mosquito populations.
The plea stated that the Mosquitofish species had been introduced into water bodies in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh.
The Guppy species, the plea further noted, had been released in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, and Odisha.
It said the National Biodiversity Authority declared these two fish species as “invasive and alien” as they adversely impacted the local aquatic ecosystems by causing food scarcity for the indigenous fish species.
It also referred to the ban imposed on Mosquitofish by countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
“Issue notice to the respondents for filing their response/reply,” a bench comprising National Green Tribunal (NGT) chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel said in an order dated January 24.
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The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Biodiversity Authority, and the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control are among the respondents in the matter.
Further proceedings in the matter are scheduled for May 6.
