By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, May 13 — Up to 500,000 fishes are released into rivers each year as part of the effort to prevent the extinction of freshwater fish sources.
State executive councillor for modernisation and agriculture Izham Hashim said the initiative has been carried out since 2008 when the state government took over Selangor.
“The release is conducted with the Selangor Fisheries Department in stages, through this programme arranged throughout the year. Various types of fish (are released) including tinfoil barb (ikan lampan) mahseer (ikan kelah) and the like,” he told SelangorKini.
Izham added that fishing sources are threatened with extinction due to several factors including water pollution, land opening and the behaviour of certain individuals who released foreign fish species into the waters.
“The matter is further complicated with the biology of these foreign fish, most of which are invasive species capable of destroying and changing the ecosystem that it invades, leading to the extinction of the local fish species.
“An awareness campaign will be conducted to raise the public’s awareness on the importance of preserving native fish species and reduce the impact caused by foreign fish species on the water’s ecosystem,” he said.
