SERDANG: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry is prepared to either amend existing laws or introduce new law to prevent the release of prohibited fish species into rivers, lakes and mining pools in the country.
Its minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub said the ministry would, however, have to get more information on the matter from the Fisheries Department before deciding on the next course of action.
“I’ll discuss with the Fisheries Department to find out how serious the situation is. If there is a need, we will formulate a new law or amend existing ones to address the problem,” he told a media conference after a meeting with fisheries development agents at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here today.
He said this in response to a report by a local newspaper on the presence of prohibited or alien fish species in waters in the East Coast.
The media conference was also attended by Fisheries Deputy Director-General Datuk Dr Bah Piyan Tan.
Salahuddin also welcomed a proposal by the Fisheries Department for amendments to be made to the River Fishing Practices to regulate the release of exotic fish species into rivers and ensure a more effective enforcement.
Among the fish species that are prohibited for release into open waters are the African cat fish, piranha, flower horn, red pomfret and dragonfish.
Meanwhile, Bah Piyan welcomed the proposal to amend or introduce new law to prevent the release of prohibited fish species into rivers, lakes and mining pools in the country.
Currently, the Fisheries department is making an inventory of prohibited fish species found in rivers in the country, he added. – Bernama
