<h1>Pulasa fish faces extinction as prices hit Rs 10,000 per kg due to overfishing and habitat destruction</h1> The iconic Pulasa fish (Hilsa Ilisha), a prized migratory species that swims upstream in the Godavari River during monsoon season, faces severe scarcity threatening its survival. Once abundant in the 1990s, this delicacy now commands prices up to Rs 10,000 per kilogram due to declining populations. A fisheries official attributes the decline to overwhelming demand, excessive fishing, decreasing water discharge, heavy siltation, indiscriminate juvenile exploitation, and disrupted migration routes. The fish cannot be artificially bred through aquaculture, making conservation critical. Officials recommend strict bans on catching juvenile fish, establishing protected spawning areas, and implementing the polluter pays principle. The species transforms in taste when entering freshwater, with female fish commanding higher prices. While catches increase in sea waters, riverine populations continue plummeting, requiring urgent conservation measures.