Shafaq News- Baghdad
The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) has become firmlyestablished in Iraq's rivers and water bodies, making its eradicationimpossible, the head of the Iraqi Fish Producers Association told Shafaq Newson Friday.
Iyad Al-Talibi said the predatory species feeds on nativefish, including binni, gattan, shabout, and carp. He noted that the fishentered Iraq before 2023 and is now found in the Third River, Dalmaj Marsh,Shatt Al-Hilla, the Euphrates River, and other parts of the country.
The species is consumed in some areas, particularly westernmarshlands, Salah Al-Din, and Nineveh, Al-Talibi said. He added that it alsooffers potential benefits, including helping remove certain organic pollutantsand serving as a protein source for poultry and aquaculture feed production.
Iraq's Environment Ministry has begun mapping the Africancatfish's distribution in coordination with the Agriculture Ministry,universities, and local authorities as part of preparations for a nationalprogram to manage invasive species. The plan includes environmental monitoring,field surveys, a national database, targeted fishing in heavily affected areas,and public awareness campaigns to prevent the species from spreading to newwater bodies.