This species of fish is endemic to a few states of the northeast and Bangladesh. The cost of a baby Channa Barca of 2-3 cm length may fetch Rs. 4000 in the international market and an adult which may grow to a meter or a tad longer may fetch over Rs. 2 lakh.
Found in a few pockets in Bangladesh, upper Assam, Nagaland and also in Garo Hills, Meghalaya. This rare freshwater fish is highly territorial carnivorous in nature and can live both in water and land. During the lean season this fish can burrow into holes near wetlands and rivers and hibernate till the water level rises again.
It is a critically endangered species due to loss of habitat and also because the species has a low fecundity or low reproduction rate. “This fish cost over Rs. 40,000,” Balkam Sangma, Fishery Officer from the Meghalaya State Technical Research and Training Institute (MSRTI) said, pointing to a Chana Barca bred in captivity.
The fish Sangma pointed to was no longer than 15 cm. He said that in Garo Hills it’s locally called Nachi and people are still unaware of its value in the international market and its rarity and sells these at a price like any other abundantly available fish.
In Assam it’s known as Garaka Cheng or Pipli Cheng. Its scientific name is Channa striata. This fish is found in upper Assam especially near the wetlands of Orang National Park.
Poachers habitually smuggle out this fish to destinations such as Indonesia, Thailand and other South East Asian countries where this fish is in high demand as an ornamental fish and also as fish food.
