Fish toxins
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Many hunter gatherer cultures use poisonous plants to stun fish so that they become easy to collect by hand. Some of these poisons paralyse the fish, others are thought to work by removing oxygen from the water.[1]
The process of documenting many fish-poisons and their use is ongoing, interest in these plant’s potential uses in medicine, agriculture, and industry is growing (Jeremy 2002).
[edit] Cyanide fishing
Cyanides are used to capture live fish near coral reefs for the aquarium and seafood market. This illegal fishing occurs mainly in or near the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Caribbean to supply the 2 million marine aquarium owners in the world. Many fish caught in this fashion die either immediately or in shipping. Those that survive often die from shock or from massive digestive damage. The high concentrations of cyanide on reefs harvested in this fashion damages the coral polyps and has also resulted in cases of cyanide poisoning among local fishermen and their families.
[edit] Fish stupefying plants
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Use of the herbal fish poisons in catching fishes from fresh water and sea documented from New Caledonia (Dahl 1985).
Tribal people using various plants for medicinal and various purposes (Rai et al. 2000; Singh et al. 1997; Lin 2005) extends the use notion for herbal fish stupefying plants. Use of the fish poisons is very old practice in the history of human kind. In 1212 AD King Frederick II prohibited the use of certain plant piscicides, and by the fifteenth century similar laws had been decreed in other European countries as well (Wilhelm 1974). All over the globe, indigenous people use various fish poisons to kill the fishes, documented in America (Jeremy 2002) and among Tarahumara Indian (Gajdusek 1954).
3 Validation of fish stupefying plants Herbal fish stupefying agents are excellent means of fishing, which do not kill whole fish stock like chemical poisons. Many of the fish stupefying plants are being used since long time by local people are recently well tested by many workers and are found to have many important medicinal properties like Carreya arborea is well-tested plant used as analgesic (Ahmed et al. 2002) and anti diarrhoeal (Rahman et al. 2003). Some of the plants like C. collinus are a traditional poison used in the different part of the country (Sarathchandra and Balakrishnamurthy 1997, Thomas et al. 1991). Recent studies by Ragupathi et al. (1992) revealed that a toxic compound cleistanthin B (2 ng/ml) is reported from the C. collinus which might be responsible for its toxicity for fishes. In addition, in earlier studies by Islam et al. (2002), it was revealed that the stem bark extracts of Lannea coromandelica caused lyses of cell membrane followed by fragmentation of cellular materials. These studies scientifically confirmed the toxic property of these plants.
1 Korkat (Olax species) Family – Olacaceae Korkat is a climber with compound, dark green leaves and white color bark. This is the most extensively used fish poison among Gond. In summer the leaves of this plant are dried and powdered, (Some time people use fresh leaves too). About 1 kg powder is mixed in 5 X 5 feet (1.5 m) pond. This is generally used in the summer when water is confined to small, shallow ponds. Due to its mixing in water fishes becomes numb. Numb fishes are then collected by hand. It was observed that if numb fishes were immediately introduced into water they would become active. According to knowledgeable individuals, in order to get good results from the Korkat, environmental temperature should be high (Illustrated in plate 11.1).
2 Nas - Tonda This is bush size herb with broad thin leaves. The bark of root is crushed and mixed in water. The plant is used only in monsoon season, as the root is juicy in this season. Unlike Korkat, it can work in running water also. 0.5 kg bark is sufficient in 5 X 5 feet (1.5 m) area (Illustrated in plate 11.2).
3 Kummod Hir (Careya arborea Roxb.) Family: Lecythidaceae Botanical synonym: Careya coccinea sensu Alston Marathi Name: Kuba, Kumbha, Kumbia, Vakumbha Kummod is large sized deciduous tree with simple large obovate leaves, large fruit and dark gray bark. Similar to Nastonda, bark of root is crushed and mixed in water. Due to its application, water becomes black. (Illustrated in plate 11.3).
4 Masiyang Masiyang is a shrub with compound leaves, small size fruit and yellow flowers. Now a day, it is not found in Mendha forest so it is not in use. Fruits are crushed and mixed in the water.
5 Odcha Popti (Cleistanthus collinus Benth) Family - Euphorbiaceae Odcha (In Gondi) or Garadi (In Marathi) is medium sized tree mainly found around the village. Young, tender shoots (locally called as Popti) of Odcha is used for fish poisoning. The shoots are crushed in water on stone and paste is mixed in water. Apart from its use as fish stupefying agent in Mendha stem of this plant is extensively used for brushing teeth, leaves for storing grains and wood as fuel.
6 Kayyang In Mendha Kayyang is occasionally used for fish poisoning. Its fruits are crushed and mixed in water. It is rare in the Mendha forest.
7 Gopid (Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.)) Botanical synonym: Dialium coromandelicum Houtt., Haberlia grandis Dennst., Lannea grandis (Dennst.), Odina wodier Roxb. Family: Anacardiaceae. Marathi Name: Moi, Munidi, Shimat, Shimti. This is medium sized to large deciduous tree with spreading crown and stout branches. Leaves compound, bark whitish or gray and small, yellowish or purplish flowers. Flowers and fruits appear between February and June. Fruits (Red, compressed, reniform and 1-seeded) of this plant are crushed and mix in water. It is abundant in the Mendha forest. Its use is not very frequent.
8 Bese mati (Costus speciosus) (Koenig.) Sm.) Botanical synonym: Banksia speciosa Koenig, Costus speciosus var. nepalensis (Rose.) Baker Family: Costaceae, Zingiberaceae Marathi Name: kemuka, penva, pinnga, pushkarmula Bese mati is an erect, succulent herb, up to 2.7 m tall and with a tuberous rootstock. Leaves spirally arranged on stem, 15-30 cm long and 5.7 to 7.5 cm wide, oblong to oblanceolate, glabrous above and silky pubescent beneath, apex caudate-acuminate, base rounded. Flowers are large, white with a yellow center, borne in dense terminal spikes, bracts 2 to 3.2 cm long, ovate, bright red to reddish-brown. Fruit is (capsule) ovoid, 2 cm in diameter, 3-halved, red when ripe; seeds are black, with a white aril. Tuberous rootstock is crushed and mixed in water for fish poisoning. Apart from its use as fish poison in Mendha tubers of Bese mati are consumed as nutritious delicacy after boiling.
9 Bora Bhaji Bora Bhaji is small herb with yellow colored flower. Whole green plant is crushed in water on stone and mixed in water. Numb fishes are collected by hand. Its use is not very frequent.
10 Irpi Dhep (Madhuca indica ( Koenig) Gmelin ) Botanical synonyms: Bassia latifolia Roxb., Madhuca latifolia (Roxb.) Macbride, Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia (Roxb.) Chev. Family: Sapotaceae. Marathi Name: mahwa, moh, Moho, mohwa. Irpi (Mahua) is a large sized tree. Seed yields edible oil. After the removal of the oil from seeds, remaining cake is used for fish poisoning. This cake is locally known as Gara-Dhep. The cake is boiled in water and mixture mixed in water. 0.5 kg cake is sufficient for 10 X10 feet pond. It is very effective poison and fishes die due to its application.
11 Wengore (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.) Botanical synonym: Lingoum marsupium (Roxb.), Kuntze, Pterocarpus bilobus Roxb. Ex G. Don, Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. Forma biloba (G. Don) prain. Marathi Name: - asan, bibla, dhorbenla, dhorbiola. Family Name: Fabaceae Common Name: Indian Kino Tree, Malabar Kino Tree, Kino. Wengore is a large size tree with simple leaves. Gray color bark is used for fish poisoning. Bark is crushed and mixed in water.
12 Beerum (Chloroxylon swietenia DC.) Botanical synonym: Swietenia chloroxylon Roxb. Family: Rutaceae Marathi Name: bheria, billu, halda. Beerum is medium sized tree with compound leaves. Its use is occasional.
[edit] References
- Shubhangi Pawar, Patil, M V, Patil, D A (2004) Fish stupefying plants used by tribals of North Maharashtra/ Ethnobotany, Vol 16,No 1/2, 136-138.
- Singh, V (ed) (2007) Indian Folk Medicines and Other Plant-Based Products. Jodhpur Scientific Publications. Chapter 22 ISBN 81-7233-481-8
