Shillong (Meghalaya), May 06: Meghalaya officially declared the Chocolate Mahseer as its State Fish on Tuesday, with the Cabinet deciding to adopt its popular local name ‘Khasaw’ to celebrate the species’ cultural and ecological value.
The decision was cleared at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Shillong. Announcing the move, officials said designating _Neolissochilus hexagonolepis_, locally called Khasaw, as the State Fish aims to boost conservation, promote indigenous aquaculture, and strengthen identity-linked fisheries in the state’s crystal-clear rivers.
The Chocolate Mahseer is a prized native fish found in the cold, oxygen-rich streams of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills. Revered by local communities for its taste and sporting value, Khasaw populations have been under pressure from habitat loss and overfishing. The State Fisheries Department will now roll out a ‘Khasaw Conservation Mission’ with breeding programs, river ranching, and community sanctuaries to revive stocks.
“Declaring Khasaw as the State Fish is about pride, protection and livelihood. It belongs to our rivers and our people,” a senior Cabinet minister said after the meeting.
With this, Meghalaya joins states like Manipur and Tripura that have adopted native fish as state symbols. The tag is expected to help brand Khasaw in eco-tourism and sustainable angling circuits, while giving traditional fisher communities a stake in conservation.
The Fisheries Department will notify the decision this week and launch a Khasaw hatchery at Mawkyrwat to support seed production for farmers and river restocking drives across East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and South Garo Hills.
