Invasive fish species for mosquito control? NGT issues notice to Centre

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Centre on two highly invasive alien fish species being used as biological agents for controlling mosquitoes.

The tribunal was hearing a plea about two fish species — Gambusia affinis (mosquitofish) and Poecilia reticulata (guppy) — being released in water bodies to control mosquitoes in various states.

The states which have stored and released mosquitofish were Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, while the guppy species has been released in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab and Odisha, the plea said.

It also 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.

The plea referred to a report by the Invasive Species Specialist Group, as per which mosquitofish was among the 100 world's "worst invasive alien species".

"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 have said in an order dated 24 January.

The respondents in the matter include the union ministry for health and family welfare, the National Biodiversity Authority and the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control.

The matter has been posted for further proceedings on 6 May.