Muzaffarnagar (PTI): Uttar Pradesh, the fourth largest fish producing state in the country, has banned the import and sale of certain fish varieties such as 'Thai Mangur' fearing they might transmit diseases locally.

According to official sources, the Uttar Pradesh Fisheries Department has asked all district magistrates to take action against those who were found selling the banned fish varieties in the state.

The state government has alerted the authorities based on reports that these fish species were being smuggled into the state from West Bengal and other states, they said.

Uttar Pradesh ranks fourth in fish production in the country. The total fish production at present from all water sources in the state is over 2.50 lakh tonnes.