Sand mining among causes of Sg Perak disturbed ecosystem - Exco

IPOH - Sand mining, earthworks, deforestation and domestic wastewater discharge are among the activities identified as contributing to the disturbance of the Sungai Perak ecosystem, which causes a drop in fish population.

State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman, Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun, said that the state government, from time to time, with the cooperation of various enforcement agencies, conducts public awareness campaigns and legal action, through existing provisions, to address the problem.

"Regarding the issue of non-native fish found in the river, efforts to control the illegal entry and breeding of such fish are being implemented.

"For that purpose, the Department of Fisheries will introduce a new regulatory control, which is the Fisheries (Inland Fisheries Aquaculture) Regulations, which are currently at the document preparation stage,” he said.

Mohd Zolkafly (BN-Lintang) said this in his reply to an oral question from Bernahudin Ahmad (PN-Manong), who wanted to know the state government's actions to address problems faced by inland fishermen, due to a decrease in their catch in Sungai Perak, especially in the Manong area, due to a drop in fish populations, disrupted aquatic ecosystems, river pollution, shallow rivers and the existence of non-native fish species.

He said that the state government, through the Department of Fisheries, has also created several freshwater fish sanctuaries for the conservation of native fish, such as kelisa (arowana) in Bukit Merah, Kerian; kelah (mahseer) fish in Sungai Tiang and loma (river carp) in Sungai Rui, Gerik.

"Loma fish conservation programme in Sungai Rui, using the closed season method, has been introduced especially in the Hulu Perak. This programme is carried out in collaboration with local communities, for the conservation of the fish in their respective areas,” he said.

He said a total of 4.14 million fish and prawn fry were released in public waters in all districts in the state last year, to increase the catch of inland fishermen, with the highest number of fry at 1,007,700, released in Kuala Kangsar district.

Mohd Zolkafly said until now, there are 2,300 inland fishermen with an estimated landing of 2,700 metric tonnes, worth RM 37.76 million a year, in Perak.

There was also widespread breeding of the Mekong red-tail catfish in Sungai Perak. It was first detected in March 2021 when fish rearing cages were damaged by strong currents. - BERNAMA