FISHERIES DEPT ADVISES AGAINST RELEASING FOREIGN FISH SPECIES IN PUBLIC WATERS

SEREMBAN, May 7 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department has urged the public against releasing foreign fish species into public waters without first consulting the department.

Its director Kasim Tawe said the department received a complaint regarding several individuals from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) who released fish into a drain at Jalan Lee Sam here on May 2.

He said an inspection found that the fish released were African catfish, a foreign species considered a threat to native fish and the surrounding riverbed ecosystem.

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“Upon receiving the complaint, my team visited the location with representatives from the NGO and found around 50 non-native fish in the area, with water flowing into Sungai Linggi.

“We informed them that African catfish are an invasive species and should not be released into public waters, as they pose a threat to native aquatic life,” he told Bernama today.

He added that, based on the water quality in the area, only two species - puyu (climbing perch) and haruan (snakehead) - are naturally suited to survive there.

Kasim advised members of the public who wish to release fish into public waters to first refer to the Fisheries Department's website for information on which species are permitted and which are prohibited.

Meanwhile, State Local Government Development, Housing and Transport Committee chairman J. Arul Kumar said the Seremban City Council (MBS) had been instructed to temporarily close off the area with immediate effect.

“The public cannot arbitrarily release foreign fish or construct structures for that purpose in public waters without proper permission. While the intention may be good, this is a public area and all activities must comply with established rules and procedures,” he said.

Earlier, a video showing a group of NGO members releasing non-native fish into the drain at Jalan Lee Sam went viral.

--BERNAMA