OVER one tonne of pleco or suckermouth catfish, locally known as ikan bandaraya, was caught in Sungai Damansara in Subang, Selangor, within two hours.
This catch is believed to be the largest recorded effort to control the invasive fish species in the country.
The feat was achieved by 32 members of Komuniti Pemburu Ikan Bandaraya (KPIB, participating in a pleco-catching competition organised by Selangor Mentri Besar Incorporated and Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd.
The event also received support from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Selangor and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.
Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim said 1,142kg of pleco were caught during the competition.
“This is a significant increase compared to the 700kg caught in Sungai Langat during a similar competition in April.
“If pleco is thriving in Sungai Damansara, one can only imagine the situation in Sungai Klang, as Sungai Damansara connects to the major river,” he said.
Izham said all fish caught would be sent to be processed into fish food and fertiliser.
StarMetro had earlier reported on the Fisheries Department releasing over 1.11 million native fish, including freshwater prawns and ikan lampam (tinfoil barb), into rivers over the past five years to address the issue.
Izham said next month, the state would implement a programme to reward volunteers with RM1 for every kg of pleco caught.
The initiative will take place every weekend at Denai Sungai Kebangsaan@Sungai Langat in Bangi, Selangor.
“The state has allocated an initial sum of RM50,000 for the incentive. It will be open to those over 18 years.
“Participants can walk-in with their own equipment, and cash incentives will be paid on the spot,” he said.
Izham also said that universities were researching ways to monetise pleco caught during the programmes.
“One such study involves creating pellets from pleco to feed other fish.
“If successful, these pellets could be sold at a lower price, benefitting fish breeders,” he said.
Izham said increasing awareness about the impact of invasive fish species on river ecosystems was also crucial.
“Many people release fish into rivers with good intentions but are unaware of the consequences,” he said.
“Species like pleco breed quickly, leading to a decline in native populations and loss of biodiversity,” he added.
