KOTA KINABALU: A total of 1,000 siakap (barramundi) fry and 2,500 giant freshwater prawn fry were released into Sabah’s interior Sungai Padas, about 170km from here, as part of efforts to enrich fishery resources and promote recreational activities.
The fry were contributed by state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar to enrich river fisheries resources and support the development of local recreational areas.
The release, adjacent to the new Tenom bridge, was done by the minister’s special officer Mohd Nizam Ag Kassim together with Tenom fisheries officer Francis Tikoi and staff from the district Fisheries Department.
Mohd Nizam said the release programme was one of the initiatives of the department, in line with the ministry’s plan to develop the area around the new bridge into “Esplanade Tenom”.
He hoped that the released fry would grow well and reproduce to increase the fish and prawn population in Sungai Padas.
According to him, conservation and enhancement of river fisheries resources not only benefit the ecosystem but also have the potential to become a recreational attraction and inland fishing activity.
