By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SHAH ALAM, Dec 30 — Over 11 tonnes, or 11,008kg of pleco fish has been caught during the second series of the Catch Invasive Fish Programme at a Sungai Kuyoh tributary, Seri Kembangan, since December 7.
Founder of the fishing squad Mohd Haziq A. Rahman said the programme, along 5km of the tributary, exceeded the overall target of 10 tonnes, following encouraging participation since the start.
Haziq said over 100 anglers have caught the invasive species throughout the programme, which has seen a high yield.
“Today, 1,526kg or 1.5 tonnes of fish was caught. Participation every week has been encouraging,” he said when contacted.
He expressed hope the programme can be continued next year to lower the population of the alien fish in Selangor rivers.
“Efforts to capture this fish must continue as they breed easily, in addition to damaging riverbanks,” he said.
[caption id="attachment_384836" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
A pleco fish haul seen near a Sungai Kuyoh tributary in Seri Kembangan, caught by participants of the ‘Catch Invasive Fish Programme’, on December 15, 2024. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Previously, Haziq said the caught fish will be sent to the state government’s Seksyen 33 hub here for disposal and to be processed into fertiliser.
The second series of the fishing effort was continued this month, with an incentive of RM1 per kg, held every weekend.
The first series was held in September at the Sungai Kebangsaan and Sungai Langat streams to conserve local species and rivers.
The alien fish, which are predators, cause the collapse of riverbanks as they burrow into vertical surfaces to lay their eggs.
