Providing employment to over 14 million people, the Indian Fishing industry is one of the leading industries in the country. The freshwater resources of India have about 195,210 kilometres of rivers and canals, 2.9 million hectares of small and large reservoirs, and 2.4 million hectares of ponds and lakes. Freshwater aquaculture alone accounts for nearly 55% of the entire fish enterprise of India. Top 10 Popular Fresh Water Fishes of Indian Rivers.
So many top and best freshwater fishes reside in these Indian rivers. That’s why Fishing Industry is ever-blooming and therefore very essential for its contribution to the economical development of our nation.
Table of Contents
Here is the listing of freshwater fish found in Indian rivers:
Tilapia
Tilapia is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. The common name for tilapia fish are coelotilapine, coptodonine, heterotilapine, oreochromine, pelmatolapiine, and tilapiine tribes, with the economically most vital species placed in the Coptodonini and Oreochromini. Tilapia, the “Cichlid Fish”, are mainly freshwater fish that have a home in shallow waters, rivers, and lakes and are also normally found living withinside the brackish water of India.
They typically have laterally compressed, deep bodies. Like other cichlids, their lower pharyngeal bones are fused into a single tooth-bearing structure. A complex set of muscle tissues allows the upper and decrease pharyngeal bones for use as a second set of jaws for processing food, permitting a division of labor among the “proper jaws” and the “pharyngeal jaws”. This way they’re efficient feeders that can seize and process an extensive variety of food items.
Tilapia are among the few of the world’s top most fed-on fish, along with the types of Carp and Salmon. They are low in saturated fat, calories, carbohydrates, and sodium, and are an amazing protein source. They also comprise the micronutrients phosphorus, niacin, selenium, diet B12, and potassium. Tilapia additionally had been used as organic controls for sure aquatic plant problems. They have a choice for a floating aquatic plant, but also eat some filamentous algae. It is likewise one of the best freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Hilsa
The ilish also referred hilsa, is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is a very popular and sought-after food fish in the Indian Subcontinent, and it is the national fish of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The species is also found in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Vietnam Sea to the China Sea.
It has no dorsal spines however 18 – 21 dorsal soft rays and anal soft rays. The stomach has 30 to 33 scutes. The fish shows a dark blotch behind the gill opening, followed by a chain of small spots alongside the flank in juveniles. Color in life, silver shot with gold and purple.
Like the salmon, hilsas stay most in their lives in salt water and swim to freshwater and estuarine waters to spawn. The Hilsa fishery in India and Bangladesh is depending on hilsa harvested from a particular area the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra river basins.
The annual average production of hilsa in India is 40,000 tonnes according to year. In West Bengal, hilsa is an important component of the state fishery, accounting for about eleven per cent of the total fish landings. Moreover they are one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Catla
Catla also called the primary South Asian carp, is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is an economically essential South Asian freshwater fish in the carp family Cyprinidae. It is a top economically important freshwater fish in the carp family and is local to the riverine systems in northern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
It has a big and large head, a protruding lower jaw, and an upturned mouth. It has big, grey scales on its dorsal facet and whitish on its belly. The natural distribution of this fish seems to be governed by temperature dependency as opposed to range and longitude.
Catla attains adulthood in its 2nd year, performing a spawning migration for the duration of the monsoon season towards the upper stretches of rivers, where males and females congregate and breed in shallow marginal areas. Catla fish can develop up to 20 kg.
Their body length can attain around 1 meter in elderly and big-sized fish. It is loaded with masses of vitamins and tastes best while cooked in mustard oil. While low in saturated fat, it additionally has a considerable concentration of protein that’s an advantage of Catla Fish Nutrition. Moreover they are one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Magur
Magur is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. The walking catfish is a species of freshwater airbreathing catfish local to Southeast Asia. It is known as for its ability to “walk” and wiggle across dry land, to locate food or suitable environments.
Magur is a best medium-sized walking catfish species of fish that is local to the rivers of the Indian subcontinent. This fish usually lives in slow-moving and often stagnant waters in ponds, swamps, streams, and rivers, as well as in flooded rice paddies, or temporary pools which can dry up The Magur or ‘walking catfish’ is an omnivorous species.
It is a renowned best delicacy in the states of Assam, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh of India. It has an elongated body type which reaches nearly 0.5 m (1.6 ft) in length and 1.2 kg by weight. Overall they are the best freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Mahseer
The Mahseers are one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is an iconic group of fish found throughout the fast-flowing rivers of south and Southeast Asia. Characterised by their large scales, appealing look and potentially vast size, the mahseers have long been afforded saintly status as ‘God’s fishes’.
They also are known to anglers as a number of the world’s hardest-fighting freshwater game fish, earning them the reputation of “tigers of the water.” During British rule, numerous huge specimens have been recorded, including the still-standing world rod-caught record, a 120lb (54kg) monster captured in 1946 through a taxidermist from Mysore known as de Wet Van Ingen. Overall they are the top freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Green Chromide
The green chromide is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is a species of cichlid fish that is found in some parts of India consisting of Kerala, Goa, Chilika Lake in Odisha and Sri Lanka. It is understood as ‘Karimeen’ in Kerala is an indigenous fish extensively found alongside the east and south-west coasts of Peninsular India.
The adult is oval in form with a brief snout. It is grey-green with darkish barring and a dark spot at the base of the fin. It is cultivated in ponds in each brackish water and freshwater environments. It is abundantly to be had in the lakes of Kerala, especially the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, Vembanad Lake and the Vellayani Lake in Thiruvananthapuram.
An adult Karimeen is oval in form with a brief snout. It is grey-green in colour with dark barring and a darkish spot at its base. An absolutely grown pearl spot fish is set 40 centimetres long weighing about kgs. Apart from Kerala, fish curry is very best well-known withinside the regions of Bengal. The fish feeds on algae, flora and water insects. No wonder they are the top freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Tengra
Mystus or tengra is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is a genus of fish in the family Bagridae local to Asia. Tengra is regularly brown, silver, black or greyish yellow with a catfish head and lengthy pointed whiskers sticking out from around its mouth. With a comparatively thicker tail, the dorsal fins are nearly as big as the tail.
They often have a grey, white or silver stomach to make identifying a lot easier. People all over Asia love this top freshwater fish. In fact, various varieties of catfish are enjoyed in many corners of the globe.
It is an excellent best source of protein, low on carbs and extremely rich in healthy fats, this freshwater fish is also a tasty food object. The most famous of these Bengali recipes is ‘Tangra Macher Jhal’. It is found mostly in freshwater rivers in the states of Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Bengal of the Indian subcontinent. They are the best freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Rani Fish
The Rani Fish or Pink Perch is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is a freshwater type gamefish, which is found in a lot of geographical regions of the Indian subcontinent. The Rani fish is generally small in length and is commonly available for sale in India.
A perch is commonly around 30 cm or much less in length, and any over forty cm / 2 lb is considered a best catch. This seawater fish is known of for its unique pink tinge and exciting flavour profile. It includes the Omega-three fatty acids – DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA. The Pink Perch is bes tliked by seafood lovers for its exceptional mild, sweet taste. Perfect to make Curry, frying and grilling. That’s why they are the best freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Trout
The Trout fish is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is a form of freshwater fish and is carefully associated with Salmon fish and Char fish and may be found in the Himalayan Region of India. The Himalayan rivers of the Indian subcontinent are rich in German Brown and Rainbow Trout.
Fishing in those Himalayan rivers is quite restricted and requires a special allowance from the country government with a policy of ‘catch and release. An ordinary adult rainbow trout usually has a weight of about 2–three kg, while its most length is 120 cm total, and the most weight is 25.4 kg and eleven years of age. That’s why they are the best freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Rohu
The rohu is one of the top most popular freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. It is a species of fish of the carp family, found in rivers in South Asia. It is a large omnivore and is extensively used in aquaculture. They contribute extensively to the aquaculture of the country. The rohu is a large, silver-coloured fish of the usual cyprinid shape, with a conspicuously arched head.
It is not only a critical fish for the fish enterprise but additionally a totally famous and engaging delicacy in India. It is most usually eaten in Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh. It is reasonably priced and tasty which makes it a top famous desire many of the masses.
Adult fish can attain 45 kg of the maximum weight and 2 m of most length. The rohu occurs in rivers in the course of much of northern and central and eastern India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, and has been delivered into a number of the rivers of Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Undoubtedly they are the top freshwater fishes of Indian rivers.
Faq related to top freshwater fishes of Indian rivers:
What are the most popular freshwater fish?
- Goldfish
- Guppy
- Cory Catfish
- Killifish
- Betta Fish
Which freshwater fish taste the best in India?
Katla, Rohu, Tilapia (Rani) and Mrigal
Which is the largest freshwater fish in India?
Humpback Mahseer
What are the top 5 best fish?
What are the best fish to eat for health?
- Wild-caught salmon
- Tuna
- Rainbow trout
- Pacific halibut
- Mackerel
What is the tastiest river fish?
- Trout
- Catfish
- Crappie
- Bluegill
What are the top 5 freshwater fish to eat?
- Walleye
- Crappie
- Catfish
- Trout
- Striped Bass
Which river fish is tasty?
Pulasa Fish
Who is the king of fish in India?
Surmai
What is the strongest freshwater fish?
The Muskie
Which is the No 1 fish in the world?
Rhincodon typus or whale shark.
What is the world’s favorite fish?
Tuna
Conclusion
As for the final say these are some of the top freshwater fishes of Indian rivers. These fishes are popular in delicacies in many parts of India. They highly nutritious providing health benefits.
