Piranha in Pahang? Fisheries Department calls in Aquaria KLCC for DNA backup

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) is collaborating with Aquaria KLCC to identify fish suspected to be piranhas at Klau Dam, Pahang, using DNA analysis.

Initial video-based assessments suggest the fish might be a piranha, but confirmation requires a physical specimen.

Inland fishermen have been advised to retain such fish for further examination.

Additionally, the DOF plans to meet with online platform operators to address concerns about the sale of prohibited fish species and will conduct inspections to ensure regulatory compliance.

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 22 — The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) will collaborate with Aquaria KLCC to identify fish suspected to be piranhas at Klau Dam, Raub, Pahang, using DNA or environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis.

Director-General of Fisheries Datuk Adnan Hussain said the collaboration would leverage live piranha specimens and existing DNA data held by Aquaria KLCC to determine the fish’s identity.

“We cannot confirm whether it is a piranha or pacu because we do not have a physical specimen. I hope this collaboration with Aquaria KLCC will help resolve the matter, including identifying the fish at the genus and species levels,” he told reporters after officiating the Teluk Bahang Marine Education Centre here today.

He said preliminary analysis by the Glami Lemi Fisheries Research Institute (FRI), based on video footage obtained, indicated that the fish’s morphological characteristics more closely resembled those of a piranha. However, definitive identification was not possible without a physical specimen.

Adnan said the Pahang Fisheries Department had instructed inland fishermen at Klau Dam to retain and surrender any fish resembling piranhas for examination of their morphology, scales and teeth.

He said there had been reports from fishermen of similar fish being found, but the specimens had already been discarded.

“Currently, we do not have concrete evidence of a population of this species at Klau Dam. There have also been no reports of unusual mortality among local fish species or attacks involving anglers or members of the public,” he said.

He said if the fish was confirmed to be a piranha, a species native to the Amazon basin, it could theoretically adapt and reproduce in Malaysia’s ecosystem due to the similarity in equatorial climates.

A video of a fish allegedly resembling a piranha being caught by an inland fisherman at Klau Dam recently sparked concern among netizens over the possible presence of the non-native species.

The Pahang Fisheries Department’s investigation found that the fish had been caught using a cast net by a local resident on Aug 26, before the video was circulated through a WhatsApp group.

Meanwhile, Adnan said DOF would meet with online platform operators following allegations that prohibited fish species were still being sold on their platforms.

He said possession of prohibited fish species requires special approval from the DOF, while imported live fish, including permitted species, must be accompanied by a health certificate to ensure they are free from diseases that could threaten the local ecosystem.

He added that the DOF would continue conducting inspections at ornamental fish premises nationwide to ensure compliance with regulations governing the possession and keeping of prohibited fish species. — Bernama

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马来西亚渔业部 (DOF) 与吉隆坡水族馆 (Aquaria KLCC) 合作，利用 DNA 分析来识别彭亨州克劳水坝疑似食人鱼的鱼类。

初步的视频评估表明，这条鱼可能是食人鱼，但需要实物标本才能确认。

已建议内陆渔民保留此类鱼类以供进一步检查。

此外，渔业部计划与在线平台运营商会面，解决有关销售禁售鱼类的问题，并将进行检查以确保遵守监管规定。

乔治市，9月22日讯——马来西亚渔业部（DOF）将与吉隆坡水族馆合作，利用DNA或环境DNA（eDNA）分析来识别彭亨州劳勿克劳水坝疑似食人鱼的鱼类。

渔业总监拿督阿德南·侯赛因表示，此次合作将利用活食人鱼标本和吉隆坡水族馆现有的DNA数据来确定鱼的身份。

“我们无法确认它是食人鱼还是帕库鱼，因为我们没有实物标本。我希望与吉隆坡水族馆的合作能够帮助解决这个问题，包括确定这种鱼的属和种，”他在今天为直落巴巷海洋教育中心揭幕后告诉记者。

他表示，格拉米-莱米渔业研究所（FRI）根据获取的视频素材进行的初步分析表明，该鱼的形态特征更接近于食人鱼。然而，由于没有实物标本，无法做出最终鉴定。

阿德南表示，彭亨州渔业部门已指示克劳水坝的内陆渔民保留并上交任何形似食人鱼的鱼类，以便对其形态、鳞片和牙齿进行检查。

他说，有渔民报告说发现了类似的鱼，但这些鱼已经被丢弃了。

“目前，我们没有确凿证据表明克劳水坝存在这种鱼类种群。也没有关于当地鱼类出现异常死亡或垂钓者或公众遭到袭击的报告，”他说。

他说，如果确认这种鱼是食人鱼（一种原产于亚马逊河流域的鱼类），那么由于赤道气候的相似性，理论上它可以在马来西亚的生态系统中适应和繁殖。

近日，一段内陆渔民在克劳水坝捕获疑似食人鱼的视频引发了网民对可能存在外来物种的担忧。

彭亨州渔业部门的调查发现，这条鱼是当地居民于 8 月 26 日用撒网捕获的，之后这段视频才在 WhatsApp 群组中传播开来。

与此同时，阿德南表示，在有指控称一些在线平台仍在出售违禁鱼类后，渔业部将与这些平台运营商会面。

他表示，持有禁养鱼类需要获得渔业部的特别批准，而进口活鱼，包括允许进口的鱼类，必须附有健康证明，以确保它们不携带可能威胁当地生态系统的疾病。

他补充说，渔业部将继续在全国范围内对观赏鱼养殖场所进行检查，以确保其遵守有关持有和饲养禁养鱼类的法规。——马新社

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