The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Customs officials seize 350 fishes at airport

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Thursday, Jan 10, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Customs officials seize 350 fishes at airport

Special Correspondent

The seizure includes two species of coral reef fish: clown and butterfly fish

The ornamental fishes were handed over to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park
The coral reef fishes were handed over to the Zoological Survey of India

— Photo : A. Muralitharan

IN DEMAND: A coral reef fish seized by Customs authorities at the Anna International terminal on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Customs Air Intelligence at the Anna international terminal on Wednesday seized parcels containing 350 fishes on Wednesday. C. Rajan, Commissioner of Customs (Airport), said authorities, on suspicion, checked three boxes. The seizure included two species of coral reef fish, clown and butterfly fish.

The passenger abandoned the boxes and escaped. More than 35 ornamental fishes were found dead.

While the ornamental fishes were handed over to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, the coral reef fishes were handed over to the Zoological Survey of India, Mr. Rajan said. The butterfly fish acts as a bio-indicator and health-indicator of coral reefs. It is displayed in aquariums in South East Asian countries, said K. Venkataraman, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority of India. In India the price of colourful coral reef fishes ranges between Rs.100 and Rs.1,000 depending on the species and its rarity.

In Tamil Nadu, the butterfly and clown fishes are illegally collected from the Gulf of Mannar and nearby areas and sold to a select few. They are also being illegally exported, Dr. Venkataraman said.

Trade in coral reef fishes is driven by market demand and authorities should provide incentives to responsible collectors, consumers and countries, he opined.

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