Slim River Fisheries Network members and local fishermen releasing the mystus seeds into Sungai Slim near Kampung Sawa in Slim Village.
OVER 30,000 mystus (ikan baung) fish seeds have been released in Sungai Slim near Kampung Sawa, Slim Village in Perak.
Slim River Fisheries Network chief Shaharin Samsuddin said the seeds were released to increase the population of the fish, which is native to the area and a source of income for fishermen.
He said the river had seen an emergence of an invasive species – the Asian redtail catfish (baung ekor merah) which could threaten the population of the mystus and other local species.
“The river is known for various species of fish and has been a source of income for fishermen for ages.
“The presence of the Asian redtail catfish is worrying fishermen as it can impact their source of income,” Shaharin said after releasing the fish seeds.
The Asian redtail catfish, known by local fishermen as “red wolves”, is believed to originate from Mekong River in Vietnam and is categorised as an aggressive predatory fish that eats other fishes besides shrimps.
Shaharin, who is also Persatuan Pencinta dan Sahabat Sungai Muallim chairman, said the fish seeds were donated by the Tapah Aquaculture Development Centre.
“The centre also hopes to maintain the sustainability of fisheries in local rivers.
“We encourage more efforts as well to conserve local fish species in our rivers,” he said.
Present during the programme were Muallim Fisheries Department head Anuar Firdaus Abd Samad, Slim Village Volunteer Fire Brigade officer Mohamad Hanafi Mohamed Daud and local land fishermen.
