OVER one million freshwater fish and giant freshwater prawn seeds have been released into public waters in Johor this year to replenish the state’s aquatic resources and strengthen ecosystem sustainability.
Johor agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman Md Israk Abdullah said the conservation effort was carried out at 24 locations statewide.
“The native species released are permitted ones such as giant freshwater prawns, river catfish, ikan siakap, sebarau, kelah, terbul and lampam,” he told StarMetro.
Md Israk said it was vital to release species that were compatible with existing ecosystems of the respective rivers and waterways.
The programme was expected to benefit local communities, particularly more than 1,200 inland fishermen in Johor, by ensuring long-term fishery availability, he said.
“The state has also allocated more than RM500,000 this year for programmes related to the conservation and strengthening of fisheries resources.
“Earlier this month, about 10,000 siakap seeds were released into the river near Kampung Permas Besar fishermen’s jetty in Kukup, Pontian.”
The initiative, he added, would also support food security, increase the potential catch and income of fishermen, and strengthen the local economy in the longer term.
Also present at the latest fish seeds release programme was Johor Fisheries Department director Rosmawati Ghazali.
It was earlier reported that more than 3.32 million freshwater fish and giant freshwater prawn seeds were released across the state last year under the department’s Fish Seed Release Programme.
