In Iraq, the African catfish, which is not consumed for religious reasons and therefore breeds uncontrollably, poses a serious ecological threat to the country's water resources. This invasive species, seen in small numbers in 2021, now risks wiping out native fish species.
Raad Habib al-Asadi, head of the Al-Chibayish Environmental Tourism Organization, said that warnings made years ago were ignored, and added, 'Today this fish poses a much greater threat than tilapia.'
An unmatched invader with seven traits
There are seven key traits that make the African catfish so successful. According to a study published in the Journal of Zoology, the fish has dietary flexibility and can switch its prey based on the most abundant species in the environment.
The same study revealed that the fish can survive in low-oxygen waters thanks to an additional respiratory organ above its gills. A study in Archiv für Hydrobiologie documented that the fish can walk short distances on wet ground using its pectoral fins.
A study in the Transactions journal of the Zoological Society of London showed that larvae and juveniles grow much faster compared to native species. Research in the Pakistan Journal of Zoology also found that the fish can adapt to a wide range of temperature and chemical conditions.
The journey from North Africa to Iraq
These traits facilitated the fish's journey from North Africa to Iraq. Dr. Omar al-Sheikhli from the College of Science at the University of Baghdad said that in 2021, heavy rains and floods in northern Syria and southern Turkey submerged ponds in fish farms, allowing the fish to enter canals and rivers.
Videos released by the Iraqi Green Climate Organization show fishermen's nets filling with this fish within minutes in the southern Hor al-Dalmaj marsh. Examinations found that the African catfish voraciously eats local fish.
Religious reasons prevent consumption
In central and southern Iraq, catfish is not eaten for jurisprudential reasons. Dr. al-Sheikhli noted that tilapia therefore causes less controversy because it is considered edible. Fishermen release African catfish caught in their nets back into the water, causing the population to increase uncontrollably and putting native fish species (bunni, shabut, humri) at risk of extinction.
Solution lies in 'adaptation'
After the situation spiraled out of control, no clear solution is in sight. Dr. al-Sheikhli said that it is no longer possible to completely eradicate the fish, and that the African catfish has become a resident species in Iraq.
'What will be done from now on will be within the framework of 'adaptation'. Breeding areas can be identified through a comprehensive study and seasonal fishing campaigns can be organized, and fish can be purchased from fishermen at an incentive price,' said the expert, emphasizing that as an urgent measure, fishermen should not release the African catfish they catch back into the water.
