SHAH ALAM, June 29 — The state government is set to introduce the Inland Fisheries Enactment this year as a measure to curb the spread of invasive fish species in Selangor's rivers.
Selangor Fisheries Department director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said the legislation will regulate the release of fish into rivers and enable stricter enforcement.
“The department is currently developing a framework for inland fisheries in the state, and we have received strong cooperation from the Selangor Legal Advisory Chamber.
“InsyaAllah, we are now in the final stages of finalising the draft. After this, we will proceed with the next steps for review before submitting it to the state government for gazettment,” she said in a recent interview.
Noraisyah added that the enactment is based on the Fisheries Act 1985, with Selangor becoming the fifth state to introduce specific legislation for riverine fisheries.
She emphasised that it is now timely for Selangor to enforce river-related laws, given the increasing presence of invasive fish species in the state's major rivers.
“In terms of compounds and penalties, they have been outlined, but we cannot disclose them just yet. The process is not being done haphazardly; we are consulting various stakeholders for expert input,” Noraisyah said.
For the record, the Fisheries Act 1985 is the primary legislation governing fisheries activities in Malaysia, covering areas including resource management, conservation, river and marine fishing, as well as aquaculture.
In November last year, state executive councillor for agriculture and infrastructure Dato' Izham Hashim said the state government is working to strengthen legal provisions under the Fisheries Department to stem the influx of invasive fish species in rivers.
He said that firm action must be taken to address the issue, as the growing population of invasive species threatens aquatic ecosystems and preys on native fish.
