Silver Pomfret, the beloved seafood of the coastal population, has been declared as the ‘State Fish’ of Maharashtra. State Minister of Forest Sudhir Mungantiwar made this announcement during a National Conference on Kisan Credit Card held in Mumbai.
A delegation of fishermen’s co-operatives in Satpati had met Mungantiwar in August with the demand to declare the silver-skinned fish as the State fish. Due to the annual decrease in production, Satpati Fishermen’s Society of Palghar,
representing the group that supplies seafood to Mumbai and nearby coastal areas, had been urging for special recognition for the fish. While announcing the decision, Mungantiwar said on the occasion, “Declaring Pomfret as the State Fish of Maharashtra will help in maintaining the balance of the marine environment, besides protecting the habitat of this official fish species.”
Silver Pomfret is mainly found in the coastal areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat and is highly popular among seafood lovers.