Over 80% Of Klang Valley Rivers Are Now Home To Foreign Fishes
The matter is serious as it is causing the extinction of indigenous aquatic life.
By Sukhbir Cheema — 27 May 2024, 02:13 PM
Foreign fishes have become the majority in 80% of rivers around Klang Valley, according to Malaysia's Fisheries Department
Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the matter is serious as it is causing the extinction of indigenous aquatic life.
The habitat of native fishes is quickly disappearing due to these foreign fishes that have been released into the rivers.
It's also difficult to detect native fishes as many of the foreign fishes eat the local fishes.
Five rivers around Klang Valley and one each in Perak and Pahang have been identified as homes to diverse species of foreign fishes
The rivers in Klang Valley include Sungai Kuyoh, Sungai Klang, and Sungai Keroh, according to the New Straits Times.
Adnan said that 600 foreign fishes were caught by over 200 community members in a joint operation that lasted about two hours recently.
"No native fish was caught. If there was any, it might be just one or two," he said.
He revealed that Bukit Jalil's Sungai Kuyoh is considered the most critical as 99% of the river's inhabitants consist of foreign fishes.
Adnan said many of the foreign fishes, such as black tilapia, suckermouth catfish, African catfish, Javanese carp, and jaguar fish, were released by people fulfilling religious rituals and vows
Adnan said releasing the foreign fishes is not good for the local ecosystem.
"Releasing foreign fishes into the ecosystem, whether intentionally or not, will not help increase the biodiversity of our native fish. So the effort to hunt foreign fish is to balance our ecosystem to enable our waters to accommodate native fish again."
He added that other ecosystems are still in a good and controlled condition and the department is ramping up efforts to bring awareness to the public.
"We are focusing on areas that require joint conservation efforts. The approach we are taking is not enforcement-based because we know those (performing religious rituals or fulfilling vows) may have good intentions and do not understand that certain species should not be released into the waters."
The Fisheries Department have met and advised the communities. Posters and signs have also been placed in critical areas as well.
Adnan warned that legal action could be taken on perpetrators caught releasing foreign fish in some states.
