By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, May 14: The Tilapia has been listed as one of the 40 invasive foreign fish species by the Malaysian Department of Fisheries (DOF), due to its potential to disrupt local aquatic ecosystems.
Announcing this at the Invasive Foreign Fish Hunting Programme opening ceremony today, Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said among others such as African Catfish, Red Tail Catfish, Flower Horn, Alligator Fish and Arapaima or Dragon Fish were also listed under the Fisheries (Prohibition of Imports, etc of Fish) Regulations 1990 (Amendment) 2011.
“Our Sarawak government has include the additional list of invasive alien fish species in the proposed amendment to the State Fisheries Ordinance 2003.
“This is a major step in the management and enforcement to contain and prevent the spread of these invasive alien species from becoming more widespread,” he said in his speech read by his deputy minister Datuk Martin Ben.
He explained that invasive alien species are aquatic organisms not native to Malaysia, introduced either intentionally or unintentionally, into local public water bodies.
Due to its highly invasive nature, majority of these species can dominate an area with a very rapid rate of productivity, durability and population spread.
He warned that this species is seen to be environmentally and economically harmful as it can pose a threat to Sarawak’s native fish species, such as Empurau, Semah, Tapah, Tengadak, Labang, Sayan, and others that have existed naturally for generations.
“We have seen the presence of this issue over the past few years, often been raised either in local newspapers or on social media due to its increasing existence and has threaten our native fish species with extinction because they are unable to compete with this invasive species.
“Among the main factors that lead to the widespread presence of invasive alien fish in inland waters are high and aggressive reproduction rate, can live in poor water quality with any type of food and very flexible habitat choices,” he said.
Dr Rundi also highlighted that these species have disrupted the food chain, eroded river banks, and deteriorated Sarawak’s water quality.
Members of the public are therefore urged to help the department in preventing, controlling and curb the existence of alien fish species as well as educate the community in Sarawak about the dangers.
He emphasised that public involvement is very important, such as being the eyes and ears in reporting to the authorities about any discovery of invasive alien fish species in inland waters.
“Report it if you see anyone releasing these species into the waters. Do not use them as bait, educate your family and friends about the dangers,” Dr Rundi added.
The Invasive Foreign Fish Hunting programme is a collaboration between various agencies such as Sarawak Department of Agriculture, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS), Sarawak Rivers Board (LSS), Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), North Kuching City Hall (DBKU), Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department (JPLS) and Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority. – DayakDaily
