Efforts for conservation of Pulasa fish germplasm

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A P Biodiversity Board has began the process of the preservation ofgermplasm of Queen of the fishes locally known as Pulasa found in Godavaribackwaters.The fish germplasm is being preserved due to the increased threat of pollution inGodavari river and the high rate at which it was sold due to non abundance. Pulasa is sold at the rate of Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 per Kg.AP Biodiversity Board Chairman Dr R Hampaiah said ,"It is most sought after fish. Evenseveral Ministers from Hyderabad get that Pulasa on special order by spending largeamount. The fish swims upstream the river water and it tastes delicious during thisperiod,"The board took up the project of preservation of germplasm of Pulasa variety found inGodavari backwaters."Like cat fish imitating murrel there is a fish now sold in the markets appearing similar toPulasa. We have to preserve the DNA of Pulasa as it has great bioresource value likeJapan Tuna fish," said Hampaiah.Dr Hampaiah said ,"we have taken initiatives as per Biological Diversity Act2002. Geographic indications which decides the patent rights of a particular thing in thenew IPR regime. This prompts us to be ready with a geographically referenced databaseto challenge any conflict which may arise in the future for genomic rights on our ownspecies with geographical indications,"The fish is usually found from June to August in the backwaters in Godavari.Senior Zoologist Mr V Babu Rao said ,"it is known as Hilsa Ilisha and migrates from seawater to fresh water for breeding. It is an Indian Shad. It is found in areas likeBhimavaram during rainy season like this,"The AP Biodiveristy Board will take the help of local fisheries department officials andNational Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources at Lucknow to conserve it.Senior scientist Dr Rajiv Mathew said ,"It is bony and oily fish. The oil fights lot ofdiseases including removal of bad cholesterol,"The fish swims from seat to fresh water for 50 to 100 kilometres usually and sometimesup to 1500 kilometres. It is one of the fastest swimmers covering 71 km in a day.Germplasm preservation techniques is used by cryopreservation in aquarium fisheswidely as they have biomedical research value and ornamental fish trade.