By Sofia Nasir
SHAH ALAM, Oct 9 — The state government is finalising a new legislation under the Fisheries Department that aims to curb the presence of invasive fish in rivers.
State executive councillor for agriculture Izham Hashim said the Inland Fisheries Enactment will provide legal provisions to penalise those who keep or possess non-native fish without a permit.
He stressed the need for strict action to address the issue of invasive fish populations that threaten the aquatic ecosystem and prey on native fish species.
[caption id="attachment_370715" align="alignright" width="457"]
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim speaks to the press during the suckermouth catfish (ikan bandaraya) catching programme at Denai Sungai Kebangsaan in Sungai Langat, Bangi, on September 1 , 2024. — Picture by MOHD KHAIRUL HELMY MOHD DIN/MEDIASELANGOR[/caption]
“We are finalising the legislation, which will make it an offence for anyone to keep or possess invasive fish without a permit.
“We will take all necessary measures to control the entry of any foreign fish species into our rivers and irrigation systems. This includes the alligator gar recently found in Sungai Klang,” he told Media Selangor.
Previously, the state government had offered a RM1 incentive for every kilogramme of invasive fish caught over a one-month period starting from September 1, as part of efforts to restore rivers in Selangor and protect local species.
Izham said the state takes the discovery of the invasive alligator gar from the Americas in local waters very seriously, describing the species to be more dangerous than the suckermouth catfish, commonly known as pleco.
He added that it is time for all parties to join forces in curbing the presence of invasive fish, which could lead to the extinction of other species in local waters.
Recently, social media was abuzz with the discovery of an alligator gar, weighing 16.94kg, caught by a man in Sungai Klang.
The alligator gar, scientifically known as atractosteus spatula, is a carnivorous species native to North and Central America, specifically the Mississippi and Missouri River basins in the United States.
This fish was introduced to Malaysia as an aquarium pet but is often released into local waters once it grows too large to be kept in captivity.
