In a joint enforcement action against illegal cultivation of banned fish species, officials from the Fisheries Department and Uruli Kanchan Police seized and destroyed nearly 3,500 kg of prohibited African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from a farm pond in Peth Naigaon village of Haveli taluka in Pune district on Thursday.

The operation was carried out after authorities received information about the unauthorised breeding and rearing of the banned exotic fish species. Acting on the tip-off, a joint team led by the Assistant Commissioner of Fisheries, Pune, along with personnel from Uruli Kanchan Police Station, conducted a raid at the site.