By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SHAH ALAM, May 15 — Around 30 tonnes of suckermouth catfish (pleco/ikan bandaraya) have been captured via a programme targeting the invasive species in rivers across Selangor since March last year.
The Selangor Department of Fisheries' director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said the effort to hunt this predatory fish species is carried out in collaboration with various parties, including universities, private agencies, and non-governmental organisations.
Continued efforts are crucial to preserve the ecosystem and the country’s inland fisheries resources and ensure future food security.
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The Selangor Department of Fisheries' director Noraisyah Abu Bakar speaks to the press during its ecosystem conservation programme to catch suckermouth catfish at Kampung Melayu Sungai Buloh in Sungai Buloh on May 15, 2025. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/MEDIASELANGOR[/caption]
“We identified rivers where the ecosystems have been damaged and the native or local fish populations are nearly extinct due to the presence of the pleco, which has a highly dominant nature.
“It also damages riverbanks, creating a risk of bank instability and endangering the surrounding area,” she said after the Selangor fisheries ecosystem conservation programme at Kampung Melayu Sungai Buloh in Sungai Buloh today.
The programme, joined by around 30 students and staff from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the Invasive Fish Hunting Squad, and Kampung Melayu Subang's Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK), successfully landed approximately 1.1 tonnes of pleco fish.
Noraisyah also advised the public, especially aquarium fish owners, not to release their pets indiscriminately into public waters, as this could threaten the natural ecosystem —particularly in the case of invasive species.
“There may be situations where owners can no longer care for the fish and are aware it is an invasive species. In such cases, they can contact the Department of Fisheries — we have designated centres where the fish can be kept.
“Please do not release fish indiscriminately into public waters, as it will only damage the ecosystem. In Penang, we have a fisheries research institute that keeps invasive fish on display for educational purposes, to raise public awareness,” she said.
Selangor has actively worked to reduce the population of this invasive fish since 2024, which is one of the causes of riverbank and embankment collapses, as it burrows holes for breeding.
Uncontrolled reproduction of the species also threatens aquatic ecosystems and preys on native fish.
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Participants of the Selangor Department of Fisheries' ecosystem conservation programme displaying the caught suckermouth catfish at Kampung Melayu Sungai Buloh in Sungai Buloh on May 15, 2025. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/MEDIASELANGOR[/caption]
