Desperate fishermen torch invasive ‘Rakashi’ to save their livelihood and Cherlapally lake in Hyderabad

The species, introduced via the ornamental fish trade, has overrun the lake, decimating native fish populations and disrupting the aquatic ecosystem. With no commercial value and known for destroying nets and consuming hatchlings, the Rakashi has rendered local fishing unsustainable

Hyderabad: Along the picturesque shoreline of Cherlapally Lake, on Sunday morning, piles of charred, grotesque forms lay smouldering, the burned remains of countless ‘Rakashi’ or Devil’s Fish.

Some of the half-burnt fish, the notorious invasive species of Armoured Sailfin Catfish, were even trying to make their way to the lake waters, back to safety.

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For hundreds of small-time fishermen and their families belonging to the Cherlapally Mudiraj Mathsya Parishramika Sahakara Sangam, the desperate act of burning the Rakashi is their last stand against an invasive species that has threatened their very livelihood.

For the past several months, the fishermen’s community has been watching helplessly as the Rakashi, an invasive species not native to the lakes of Hyderabad, systematically took over the lake’s ecosystem. The presence of the Rakashi is unmistakable, a dark, armoured shadow that silently takes over the Lake ecosystem that once thrived beneath the surface.

“A few months ago, government authorities gave us some fish hatchlings, and we released them in the lake with a lot of hope, ” explained Eega Satyanarayana and Vijaykumar, the president and secretary of the Cherlapally Fishermen’s Welfare Association. “However, the Rakashi fish somehow made its way in its larval form. There are no freshwater native fish here anymore, just hundreds of these Rakashi. What is our way out, if not to burn them?” they asked.

Who are these Rakashi?

The Hyderabad-based Laboratory of Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), CCMB, has provided crucial insights on the devastating impact of this invasive species on lake ecosystems.

CCMB research reveals alarming spread of this species, which was originally introduced to India for the ornamental fish trade and its ability to clean aquariums. It has now proliferated to an estimated 60 to 65 per cent of water bodies in the Eastern Ghats, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, severely disrupting native ecosystems by preying on local fish and consuming vital oxygen.

Rakashi are voracious omnivores, consuming native fish species, fish eggs and even dead carcasses, severely disrupting the natural food web ecosystem, directly reducing native fish populations. They consume significant amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water, creating low oxygen conditions, detrimental to other aquatic life.

Rakashi are known for their formidable, sharp spines and robust armoured bodies. When caught, they can damage fishing nets. However, while they are large, they do not have any commercial value and bring no incentives for fishermen.

“We spent Rs 3.5 lakh on healthy fish hatchlings, hoping to boost our stock,” fisherman Narsimha shared, shaking his head. “But the devil fish, with their voracious appetites, just devoured them all. The entire lake is now infested.”