Difference and feature of Jatka and Chapila
Introduction:
Fishes are the major source of animal protein and it contributes about 60% of the animal protein
intake. Tenualosailisha is the national fish of Bangladesh. The hilsa shad deposits its eggs in
fresh water; when they hatch, the larvae and juveniles migrate to sea over several months,
feeding and growing en route. At this early stage of their life they are known locally as "Jatka,"
and range from 4-15 centimeters (1.6-6 inches) in length. “Jatka” are captured in a large quantity
by artisanal fishers and sold on local markets as “chapila”.
Biology of Jatka:
The fish is marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous. The fish schools in coastal
waters and ascends up the rivers (anadromous) for around 50 – 100 km to spawn during the
South West monsoons (June to September) and also in January to April . April is the most fertile
month for breeding of ilish. The young fish returning to the sea are known in Bangladesh as
jatka, which includes any ilish fish up to 9 inches long. It is found in rivers and estuaries in
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Myanmar (also known as Burma) and the Persian Gulf area where it
can be found in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in and around Iran and southern Iraq.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Clupeidae
Genus: Tenualosa
Species:Tenualosa ilisha.
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Biolgy of Chapila:
Freshwater of Sind and the districts watered by the Indus and its branches, also the affluent and
main streams of the Ganges, Jamuna, Brahmaputra and Mahanoddi.Spread through the India and
Assam, except the Deccan, southern and western India and Ceylon
Classification:
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Actinopterygii
Order:Clupeiformes
Family:Clupeidae
Genus:Gonialosa
Species:Gonialosa manmina.
Morphological feature of Jatka:
It has no dorsal spines but 18 – 21 dorsal soft rays and anal soft rays.
The belly has 30 to 33 scutes.
There is a distinct median notch in upper jaw.
Gill rakers fine and numerous, about 100 to 250 on lower part of arch and the fins are
hyaline.
The fish shows a dark blotch behind gill opening, followed by a series of small spots
along the flank in juveniles. Color in life, silver shot with gold and purple.
Figure:Jatka
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Morphological feature of Chapila:
Body short and fairly deep and somewhat compressed.
Mouth inferior and small.
Abdominal profile more convex than that of dorsal. Upper jaw little expanded at tip, but
distinctly turn down.
Eyes with broad adipose lids.
Caudal deeply forked and lower lobe is longer than upper lobe. Scales moderate, thin ,
more or less adherent 40 to 50.
Body color grayish along back, silvery on sides and below, opercle and cheek yellow,
snout and interorbital dotted.
Fins are yellowish dorsal and caudal with dark edges. With a dark spot behind gillopening.
Figure:Chapila
Difference between Jatka and Chapila:
Jatka Chapila
1)Jatka is the order of clupeiforms ,family
clupeidae and Genuustenualosa.
1)Chapila is the order of clupeiforms ,family
clupeidae and Genuus of gudusia and
gonialosa
2)Number of anal fin 14-24 2)Number of anal fin 21-24
3)Freshjatka smell as like as ilish. 3)FreshChapila smell is not as like as ilish.
4)The dorsal and ventral side of Jatka is
equally convex.
4)The ventral side of Chapila is more convex
and witder than dorsal side.
5)Head is elongated and inferior pointy. 5)Head size is small and inferior addle.
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Jatka Chapila
6)Scale is large and 40-50 scale are in a line. 6)Scale is small and 80-120 scale are in a line.
- A large black spot and then numerous spot
are present after gill opening.
7)The black spot present or absent.
8)Number of spine in pre-pelvic 15-16 and
post-pelvic 11-16.
8)Number of spine in pre-pelvic 18-19 and
post-pelvic 8-10.
Production:
Fisheries Research Institute in 1992-94 estimated that every year in the fishing season from
January to April, about 3,500-4,000 m tons of jatka are caught by using different types of gears
such as jagatberjal, current jal and behundijal. More than 50% of the total jatka are caught in the
Meghna. Although fishing regulations do not permit catching jatka, since it is very damaging to
the hilsa fishery, the practice continues unabated.
Recommendation:
Conservation of Jatka through fishing ban should be continued.
Community based program to monitor and enforce a Jatka fishing ban on all major rivers
during the Jatka outmigration
Stop overfishing during peak spawning migration.
Remove bamboo fences which fisher erect to block the hilsas river migration.
Increase awareness among fishing community.
Conclusion:
Fish is one of the principal dietary ingredients to the people in our country. If you protect jatka ,
you will get Hilsa for 12 month. The government should take proper step to protect jatka which
enhanceour total fish production and can play an important role in our nation economies.
Reference ; 1. Department of fisheries ( DOF )
- Wikipedia
3.Mosso soptaho 2012- 2013
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