Initiative launched in Periyar Tiger Reserve for managing invasive African catfish
The Periyar Tiger Reserve has launched a conservation initiative to manage the invasive African catfish by harvesting the species and converting it into value-added products. This circular model aims to protect the local freshwater ecosystem while providing sustainable income for tribal communities.
Why it matters
It offers a scalable, financially viable blueprint for managing invasive species in protected areas by aligning ecological health with economic empowerment.
A conservation initiative in Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) seeks to demonstrate how the management of invasive species can protect biodiversity while simultaneously improving livelihoods of local populations.
The initiative, launched on Friday and involving multiple agencies, focuses on managing the invasive African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). This highly predatory species is considered a major ecological threat to the Periyar freshwater ecosystem. But instead of treating the invasive fish merely as waste following its removal, the project focuses on a circular conservation model. The harvested African catfish are transformed into high-value products including pet chewers, fish jerky, fish pickles and other value-added products.
The collaborative programme is led by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) in partnership with the Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation (PTCF), the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries of the University of Kerala, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
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