Team Herald
PANJIM: It’s neither the bangdo (mackerel) nor the kurleo (crab), but the shevtto or striped grey mullet that has been selected as the State Fish of Goa.
Shevtto, or Mugil cephalus its scientific name, has been chosen due to its popularity amongst Goans, though the mackerel is the most common fish in the State, says Fisheries department.
“The formal announcement in this regard will be made at a public function on January 7, but a notification has already been issued by the Fisheries department,” Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro said.
“Shevto is the most loved fish in Goa and that’s the reason it is now the State fish,” she added.
While mackerels and sardines are available all along the Konkan coast, Shevtto is available everywhere or anywhere in Goa, said Dr Monteiro.
“You find Shevtto on the coast, the jetties, Khazan land, rivers, fresh water and everywhere from North to South of Goa”, she added.
She also pointed out that Shevtto can be caught in a rampon, katalli, khuttanni, simple net and even with fishing rods or a lambari – almost all the methods used in Goa to catch fish.
The variety is a species of mullet from the Mugihidae family under the order Mugiliforme, states the notification.
Grey mullet are dark green to bluish grey on their backs with silvery grey sides and a white belly.
The fish averages from two to four kilograms and is strong, sturdily built with thick, hard scales.
Grey mullet is a very clean and also considered to be a ‘vegetarian fish’, whose roe is also considered a delicacy. These fish can live to a reported age of up to 25 years with maturity occurring at 9 years for males and 11 years for females.
Spawning generally occurs from January through April at sea. The eggs develop in the sea and juveniles migrate inshore, colonising the intertidal zone and estuaries.
Grey mullet eat algae and live inshore, entering lagoons, estuaries and rivers.
With the common fish now crowned with the honour of the State Fish, it needs to be seen how much it would be priced in the tourist State.
