Unsuspecting threat: A file picture showing a pile of over 100 suckermouth catfish caught from a river. — Photo courtesy of Komuniti Pemburu Ikan Bandaraya
JOHOR BARU: A team of researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) will soon begin a study along Sungai Skudai, one of Johor’s most polluted rivers, to examine the impact of suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus), commonly known as ikan bandaraya, on the local ecosystem.
UTM Faculty of Science bioscience department senior lecturer Dr Mohd Farizal Ahmad Kamaroddin said that in February this year, the team managed to capture more than 300kg of the invasive species from a stream connected to Sungai Skudai near Kampung Pertanian in Kulai.
“With the help of the local community, we were able to catch about 20kg of ikan bandaraya each time we cast our nets. It took us about an hour and a half to reach a total of 300kg at the same location.
“In fact, when we arrived, we could already see a large school of suckermouth catfish. The stream’s shallow water level revealed their presence, which is a worrying sign for the ecosystem,” he said when met yesterday.
Mohd Farizal, who is also principal of UTM’s Kolej Tun Hussein Onn, added that the presence of such invasive species could further damage Sungai Skudai, which is already suffering from severe pollution.
He said the suckermouth catfish are known to dig holes as deep as an arm’s length to lay eggs, weakening riverbanks and causing erosion.
Mohd Farizal added that this contributes to shallower water levels and increases the risk of flash floods.
“From our conversations with local residents along Sungai Skudai, they said the number of native river fish has dropped due to the presence of ikan bandaraya.
“This invasive species thrives in our rivers because it has no natural predators. Its tough, armour-like skin and sharp dorsal fin provide protection.
“It also feeds on the eggs of other fish, causing its population to grow while native fish populations decline,” he said.
Mohd Farizal added that UTM has awarded the team a research grant to study the presence and spread of suckermouth catfish in Sungai Skudai.
He said as part of the project, the team will carry out mapping along the river, from Kulai down to Johor Baru, to track the distribution of ikan bandaraya and other invasive species.
“This mapping will help us identify key areas along Sungai Skudai where the fish are concentrated, making it easier to remove them.
“The suckermouth catfish we collect will be processed into fertiliser, which can then be used in agricultural activities,” Mohd Farizal said.
He added that the research team will also run awareness programmes with local communities to educate them about the dangers of releasing invasive fish into rivers.
“Recently, there has been increased effort from government departments and local authorities to catch invasive species nationwide, which is encouraging.
“However, we also need greater public awareness to stop people from releasing these species into our rivers.
“Some keep ikan bandaraya as pets in aquariums, while others release them into rivers due to religious beliefs, thinking it is a good deed but it actually causes more harm to our ecosystem,” he said.
