Pearl spot becomes Kerala's state fish

Pearl spot becomes Kerala's state fish.

PEARL SPOT

From being just a lip smacking item in Kerala cuisine, Karimeen or Pearl spot has become the official State fish.   2010-11 is being observed as ‘The Year of Karimeen.’ to  boost the production of Karimeen (Etroplus suratensis). A bottom dweller that inhabits the fresh and brackish water habitats throughout Kerala, pearl spot is a delicacy that tops the menu at the restaurants and is extremely popular among foreign tourists and local population alike.

The Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district is considered the home of this fish species. It is a popular item in the menu served during camping and house boats and very often the boat crew procure the fish straight from men and women who collect it using gillnets from the waters.

It is cooked in various styles. Fried, cooked in spicy and tangy coconut gravy or slowly grilled in charcoal with spices, pearl spot is tasty and hence pricey as well, which is well beyond the reach of ordinary people. The signature dish of Kerala could well be the  delicacy, ‘Karimeen Pollichathu”, fish  sauteed with masala and cooked over low fire in coconut milk, wrapped in plantain leaves. Kerala produces 2,000 tonnes of Karimeen at present and efforts are on to step up its production to 5,000 tonnes in a year. Though the plight of the state animal, elephant and the state bird, hornbill is far from satisfactory, we can earnestly hope that Karimeen, the state fish of Kerala, thrives and flourishes in Kerala waters, bringing laurels and precious foreign exchange in the process.

PEARLSPOT OR KARIMEEN FISH

GREEN CHROMIDE (KERALA KARIMEEN)

                         The green chromide (Etroplus suratensis) is a species of cichlid fish from freshwater and brackish water in southern India and Sri Lanka. It is also known as the pearlspot orkarimeen (കരിമീന്‍‌) in Malayalam and koral in Bengali. Green chromide can be a perfect fish for Pissiculture. In India, it is found throughout Kerala, especially in Kerala Backwaters around Alleppey ,(Alappuzha), and in western flowing rivers in Karnataka, and backwaters of Andhra Pradesh. It feeds on algae, plant material and insects.

The fish, known locally in Kerala as Karimeen, is considered a delicacy. Some of the prominent dishes are the Karemeen Fry, Karemeen Molly and Karemeen Pollichathu. This fish is fairly expensive and is available throughout the year. It is caught mainly using gillnets. It commonly reaches 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, and the maximum length is twice that. In 2010 state fisheries minister of Kerala declared Karimeen as the official fish of Kerala state. Year 2010-'11 was observed as 'The Year of the Karimeen". Karemeen Polichathu is commonly wrapped in banana leaves.