A very rare fish was sold at a throwaway price after being caught with a net off the sea coast here on Monday.
The fish weighing 20-25 kg was said to be a White Shark or Carcharodon Carcharias.
Locals said this species of shark fish are caught in fishing nets frequently in the sea here. But as fishermen are unaware about the identity of the species, they sell them to traders at Rs 3,000 a kg while the traders then sell them at more than Rs 30,000 in other States.
Local fishermen sell this species of fish to traders at low prices considering it to be of normal saltwater category.
A forest official said, “Fishing of such species of shark is illegal and attracts punishment as equivalent to poaching a tiger in forest. Such species of shark is usually found in sea off Puri.”