Stop dumping pet fish in lakes, govt warns as alien species wiping out natives in Ampang lake

Tasik Ampang Hilir in Kuala Lumpur faces an ecological threat as alien fish now constitute 95% of its fish population, endangering local freshwater biodiversity.

The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, led by Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, emphasizes the need for strengthened mitigation efforts through data-driven approaches, community education, and strategic partnerships across sectors.

Initiatives include an alien fish-catching program, restocking native species, tightening regulations on invasive species, and increasing public awareness to prevent the release of pet fish into public waterways.

Agrobank has also contributed by releasing native fish fry to help restore ecological balance.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — Alien fish account for 95 per cent of fish recorded in Tasik Ampang Hilir, posing a serious threat to the balance of Malaysia’s freshwater ecosystem.

Agriculture and Food Security Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak said mitigation efforts needed to be strengthened through data-driven approaches, community education and strategic cooperation involving the government, private sector and non-governmental organisations.

He warned that releasing pet fish into lakes, dams and public waterways when they grow too large or become difficult to care for could harm aquatic biodiversity and threaten the survival of local species.

“If we do not educate, this matter will become a culture that is difficult to curb and will become a long-term problem,” he said at the “Program Kelestarian Perikanan Darat: Mitigasi Memburu Ikan Asing” at Tasik Ampang Hilir here today.

The alien fish-catching programme, conducted from 2022 to 2025, recorded a total catch of 19.74 tonnes, highlighting the need to address the spread of these species more seriously.

Isham said measures included increasing efforts to catch alien fish, releasing local fish fry to help restore the balance of fish populations and expanding public education to discourage people from releasing pet fish into public waters.

He said the ministry was also reviewing ways to tighten existing regulations, including the possibility of banning certain fish species identified as threats to local ecosystems.

Agrobank released 1,400 native fish fry into the lake to support the conservation of local species, comprising 1,100 baung and 300 lampam sungai.

Records from the Malaysian Department of Fisheries showed that 146 of the 154 fish recorded in Tasik Ampang Hilir were alien species, while only eight were native species.

Agrobank chief development officer Ahmad Arif Abu Bakar said efforts to restore the balance between native and alien fish populations needed to be supported by greater public awareness and education on the importance of protecting Malaysia’s biodiversity.

“The public needs to understand their responsibility in maintaining the ecosystem, including not releasing pet fish into rivers or lakes when the fish grow larger,” he said.

The programme brought together about 250 participants from seven agencies and organisations, with activities including catching alien fish using seine nets, cast nets, fishing lines and fish traps. — Bernama

Selangor Islamic council denies Jais ‘frame-up’ claims in Nik Nazmi’s khalwat detention, says no one is above the law

Penang’s RM420m link road to Silicon Island targets first bridge opening by 2028

From USJ to Shah Alam, flash floods disrupt Klang Valley roads after afternoon downpour

吉隆坡的安邦湖正面临生态威胁，外来鱼类占其鱼类总数的 95%，危及当地淡水生物多样性。

由拿督斯里伊沙姆·伊沙克领导的农业和粮食安全部强调，需要通过数据驱动的方法、社区教育和跨部门的战略伙伴关系来加强缓解措施。

相关举措包括捕捞外来鱼类、恢复本地物种、加强对入侵物种的监管，以及提高公众意识以防止将宠物鱼放生到公共水道中。

Agrobank 还通过放流本地鱼苗来帮助恢复生态平衡。

吉隆坡，10 月 17 日讯——在安邦希利湖记录到的鱼类中，外来鱼类占 95%，对马来西亚淡水生态系统的平衡构成严重威胁。

农业及粮食安全部秘书长拿督斯里伊沙姆·伊沙克表示，需要通过数据驱动的方法、社区教育以及涉及政府、私营部门和非政府组织的战略合作来加强缓解措施。

他警告说，当宠物鱼长得太大或难以饲养时，将其放生到湖泊、水坝和公共水道中，可能会损害水生生物多样性，并威胁当地物种的生存。

“如果我们不进行教育，这件事就会变成一种难以遏制的风气，并成为一个长期问题，”他今天在安邦湖举行的“渔民教育项目：减少非法捕捞鱼只”上说道。

从 2022 年到 2025 年开展的外来鱼类捕捞计划记录了 19.74 吨的总捕捞量，凸显了更认真地解决这些物种扩散问题的必要性。

伊沙姆表示，相关措施包括加大力度捕捞外来鱼类，放生本地鱼苗以帮助恢复鱼类种群平衡，以及扩大公众教育，以劝阻人们将宠物鱼放生到公共水域。

他说，该部门还在审查如何加强现有法规，包括是否有可能禁止捕捞某些被认定为对当地生态系统构成威胁的鱼类。

为了支持当地物种的保护，农业银行向湖中放生了 1400 条本地鱼苗，其中包括 1100 条 baung 鱼苗和 300 条 lampam sungai 鱼苗。

马来西亚渔业部的记录显示，在安邦希利湖记录的 154 种鱼类中，有 146 种是外来物种，而只有 8 种是本地物种。

农业银行首席发展官艾哈迈德·阿里夫·阿布·巴卡尔表示，恢复本地鱼类和外来鱼类种群平衡的努力需要得到更广泛的公众意识和教育的支持，以了解保护马来西亚生物多样性的重要性。

他说：“公众需要了解他们在维护生态系统方面的责任，包括不要在宠物鱼长大后将其放生到河流或湖泊中。”

该项目汇集了来自七个机构和组织的约250名参与者，活动包括使用围网、抛网、钓线和鱼笼捕捞外来鱼类。——马新社

雪兰莪伊斯兰理事会否认了伊斯兰教法机构（JAIS）关于尼克·纳兹米被关押在基层拘留所的“陷害”指控，并表示任何人都不凌驾于法律之上。

槟城耗资4.2亿令吉连接硅岛的道路计划于2028年开通首座桥梁。

从USJ到莎阿南，午后暴雨引发的洪水导致巴生谷道路交通中断。