Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Officials intercepted a consignment of Channa fish at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport on September 29. The seizure follows growing anxiety that protected Barca snakehead, or Channa barca, is being trafficked under the guise of legal, non-protected varieties. The Gauhati High Court ruled on July 17, 2026, that species such as Channa stewartii, Channa bleheri, and Channa aurantimaculata are not protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. However, the endangered Channa barca remains strictly off-limits for trade or cultivation.
Identification remains a major roadblock for authorities. In a letter dated September 19, the Assam State Biodiversity Board told airport officials it lacked the expertise to verify live specimens. The Board recommended Dr. Dandadhar Sarma and Dr. Shamim Rahman to assist with species identification. This follows recent court orders requiring expert verification for all fish shipments leaving the airport.
Regulatory issues persist regardless of species identification. Any commercial movement of biological resources requires approval from the Assam State Biodiversity Board. The current consignment moved without this permission. Investigators suspect traffickers frequently mislabel protected species. Dr. Nipan Nayak previously noted that identification rests on morphometric characteristics, head patterns, and physical appearance.
Authorities are still reeling from a separate incident in Golaghat on September 22. Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah confirmed that "around 300 live specimens of Channa barca were recovered from a public bus near Bokakhat." Five suspects face charges in that case. Traffickers often view the trade as highly lucrative. In December 2023, officials seized 500 Channa barca at Dibrugarh airport, a load valued at several crores. Officials have yet to release details on the quantity or destination of the latest airport haul.
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