They are defined as fish that grow to a maximum size of 25-30 cm in mature or adult stage of their life cycle. They inhabit rivers and tributaries, floodplains, ponds and tanks, lakes, beels, streams, lowland areas, wetlands and paddy fields. In India, out of 877 native freshwater fish species, about 450 are Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIFS). The maximum diversity of SIFS in freshwaters has been recorded from the North East Region followed by Western Ghats and Central India. About 62 SIFS have been categorized as food fish while 42 species as ornamental fish. Some cultivable SIFS are Mola, Climbing Perch, Barbs, Bata, etc.
