Honestly, there’s nothing like enjoying a delicious fish steak or fish fry after a long day of looking at spreadsheets. Succulent, delicious, and nutritious, fish dishes are a great way to satisfy both stomach and soul. They’re a gift from nature, packed with protein, and sometimes, even a little risky. You’re standing in the grocery store, fillets glistening in fluorescent lights, wondering: Is this good stuff? Shailesh Patel understands it. He’s felt that frustration, craving really high-quality fish. But instead of lamenting the frozen food aisle, he did something extraordinary. He founded Dam Good Fish, a company that eliminates the middlemen (and mystery) by bringing dam-raised fish straight to your door.
Forget the dirty ponds and crowded cages of traditional aquaculture. Dam Good Fish sources its treasures from pristine dams, promising a healthier product for you and a more sustainable approach for the planet. We caught up with Patel to get the lowdown on this unique operation, from the surprising benefits of dam-raised fish to the secrets behind keeping them shockingly fresh during their journey from the dam to your door.
1. What are the advantages of raising fish in dam water like Lalitpur as compared to raising fish in ponds or farms?
The Dam Good family firmly believes that “a happy fish is a healthy fish.” Dams, large bodies of water, provide expansive space and natural environments conducive to fish health. The pure water quality, naturally controlled temperatures and diverse habitats within dams promote strong and resilient fish populations. Unlike ponds or farms, dams provide ample space for fish to roam, reducing overcrowding and competition for resources, promoting better growth, tissue strength and overall fish welfare.
Continuous water flow in dams ensures optimum oxygen levels, creating an ideal habitat compared to stagnant water in fields or ponds. Nutrient-rich inputs from upstream sources, such as organic matter brought by rivers, maintain the food chain within the dams, supporting the growth of algae and other natural food sources essential for fish.
In a dam environment, fish benefit from a wide range of natural resources including algae, insects and aquatic organisms, promoting a varied diet that promotes better nutrition and growth. Unlike ponds that require extensive preparation with chemicals such as calcium hydroxide, urea, DAP, SSP and slaked lime, fish farming in dams requires minimal maintenance.
In addition, unlike the use of chemicals and antibiotics common in pond farming to control harmful bacteria, fish raised in dams enjoy a healthier environment, reducing the risk of disease outbreaks. Contributing to overall ecosystem health, fish in dams play important roles in nutrient cycling, predator-prey dynamics, and biodiversity conservation. Additionally, they support recreational and commercial fishing industries, providing economic benefits to surrounding communities.
2. Some consumers may be concerned about the environment of the dam. How do you ensure that the water quality is suitable for raising healthy fish?
Dams are natural reservoirs extending for hundreds of kilometres that are fed by upstream sources and rivers. Generally located away from industrial areas and densely populated areas, dams remain free from pollution, ensuring the purity of their water and soil. Dam Good Fish selectively sources its fish from pristine dams like Rajghat, which are rich in organic nutrients and devoid of pollutants, producing organic fish of exceptional quality.
Rajghat Dam, Lalitpur (Photo: iStock)
3. What special types of fish do you get from Rajghat Dam in Lalitpur? Are there any unique species that are not easily available elsewhere?
Dams like Rajghat are home to freshwater Indian major carps, catfish and many other fish species. These include rohu, katla, mrigal, bata, chilwa, calbasu, bighead, singhi, singhara, river sole, pabda (butterfish), malli, chitol, dhawai, balm and many more. Some of these fish species are wild and cannot be reared in ponds or farms, making the Rajghat dam a unique and invaluable habitat for a wide range of native aquatic life.
4. What kind of feedback have you received from your customers regarding the taste and quality of your dam fish?
We have been fortunate to receive consistent positive feedback from our customers about the freshness, taste and quality of our Dam Water Fish. For instance, one of our valued customers recently shared: “As always, great quality of Singhara fish as if it is a freshly caught one. Thank you very much. Keep it up.” This feedback is a great source of motivation for our team. Since our inception, we have been overwhelmed by the trust placed on Dam Good Fish by fish enthusiasts, which is evident from the word of mouth and repeat orders. We are steadfast in our commitment to deliver fresh, odourless product and individual cuts, ensuring that the fish is cut, cleaned and packed as per the order placed.
5. Sustainability is a growing concern. How does getting fish from dams contribute to making the seafood industry more sustainable?
Dams are integral parts of the natural landscape, so fish farming requires minimal habitat alteration. In addition to serving as habitat for a variety of aquatic species, dams support ecosystems that include aquatic plants, invertebrates, and other wildlife. By sourcing from dams, we contribute to the preservation of these natural habitats and the diverse ecosystems they create. Compared to intensive aquaculture practices in ponds or farms, sourcing from dams generally has a lower environmental impact. In addition, sourcing from dams can boost local economies by creating livelihood opportunities for communities living around the dam.
6. We have seen a rise in the popularity of the farm-to-table concept. Dam Good Fish takes it one step further – Dam-to-door! What inspired you to start Dam Good Fish and bring Dam Water fish directly to consumers?
Thanks for highlighting this. We truly believe and it is our motto to feed freshwater fish to Indian consumers and truly termed as “Dam-to-Door”, delivering naturally grown fish directly to consumers’ homes is the ideal way to provide premium protein sourced from the natural environment. Fish as an alternative to lean meat has gained immense popularity among meat consumers. India is currently the third largest fish producing country in the world. However, in terms of aquaculture in small, medium and large dams and reservoirs, our neighbouring countries like China are at least ten times higher than India with fish production levels, highlighting the immense potential for growth in India’s aquaculture sector.
7. Dam Good Fish is a delivery-only service. How do you maintain freshness during transportation?
We are on a mission to serve only fresh fish to our consumers. The fish caught at the dam at night is packed immediately at 0-4 degrees temperature and delivered to our packing center early in the morning. The fish will be cut and packed just before the delivery slot to maintain the tenderness of the meat. Our state-of-the-art packing center uses RO purified chilled running water while cutting and cleaning the fish. The packs are hygienically vacuum packed and delivered with ice pads to maintain the temperature. The entire journey is kept at 0-4 degrees to maintain freshness.
8. Do you plan to expand Dam Good Fish beyond Lalitpur in the future, or make other products from Dam available as well?
Indeed, our dam-grown fish are wild-caught and naturally grown; the species we catch vary depending on the climate, weather, and other tropical conditions in different locations. While Rajghat remains an important source, we also collect fish from several other dams such as Sharda Sagar near Pilibhit, Rana Pratap Sagar in Rajasthan, Rihand near Banaras, and many more. It is our top priority to ensure the purity of the water and the nutrition of the soil of every dam we source fish from. We procure a wide range of seafood varieties, including marine species that are wild-caught and delivered fresh to our customers. This diversified sourcing approach allows us to offer a wide selection of premium-quality fish and seafood to our valued customers.
9. Finally, for our readers who are interested in trying Damn Good Fish, can you tell us a bit about your ordering process and delivery area?
We have a highly interactive mobile application, “Damn Good Fish”, available on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as a user-friendly website for convenient ordering of fresh fish products. Though we initially launched in Gurgaon, we have now expanded our delivery services to Delhi. We aim to expand our reach to the entire National Capital Region (NCR) before August this year. Looking forward to customer demands for quality protein and lean meat options, we have recently introduced a new range of fresh marinated fish products. Looking ahead, we aspire to serve customers across major Indian cities in the coming year.
10. Do you have any tips on how home cooks can best prepare and enjoy dam water fish? (Please provide practical cooking tips to readers).
Well, fish is one of the easiest dishes to prepare, second only to salads! 🙂 It tastes best when shallow fried, grilled or cooked in various curry styles. Some of the Bengali and Kerala style fish dishes are particularly mouth-watering. Fish naturally contains healthy oils, so shallow frying it requires minimal oil, making it ideal for beginners. A simple marinade with basic spices like salt, pepper, chilli and turmeric along with ginger and garlic paste is all you need. Marinate the fish, let it cool to let the flavours infuse, then shallow fry in a pan for a maximum of 8 minutes depending on the type of fish. We regularly share home chef reviews and cooking tips for Damn Good Fish on Instagram, so make sure to follow us for more inspiration!
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