Silver pomfret, the preferred seafood of most of Maharashtra’s coastal population, was declared the ‘state fish’ of Maharashtra by state minister of forests, during a national conference on the Kisan Credit Card on Monday 04 September 2023.“This decision will help conserve and increase the production of silver pomfret in Maharashtra,”
Silver pomfret, a beloved seafood delicacy among Maharashtra’s coastal communities, has faced increasing threats from mechanized fishing in recent times. Fishermen from the state had been urging the government to take decisive measures to protect this species, whose popularity has led to premature overfishing.
Maharashtra already has mango as the state fruit, giant squirrel as the state animal, Jarul as the state flower, and yellow-footed green pigeon as the state bird. With the latest announcement, the silver-skinned fish native to the coastal areas of South and South East Asia and the Middle East, has been added to the list.