SHILLONG, MAY 5: The state Cabinet on Tuesday approved the declaration of the chocolate mahseer, ‘Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, as the state fish of Meghalaya

“The state cabinet has approved the declaration of chocolate mahseer, Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, as the state fish of Meghalaya,” , Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla told reporters after the meeting.

He said Meghalaya had not designated a state fish until now, while 22 other states in the country have already done so.

“As you know, till now in the state of Meghalaya we don’t have a state fish, whereas if you look in other parts of the country almost 22 states have already declared some fish as their state fish. Therefore, we decided to declare this chocolate mahseer, which in Khasi we call “Khasaw”, as a state fish,” he said.

Shylla added that the decision was driven by conservation. The species is found across Meghalaya.

“We did this from the conservation point of view as well. You will find this fish in all parts of the state. We want to promote it and at the same time we want to conserve it as well,” he said.