LIPIS: The Pahang Fisheries Department is working with the state legal adviser's office to make related amendments to the Pahang Fisheries Management Act 1991 to curb the threat posed by invasive fish species.
State Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry and Biotechnology committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abd Razak said the discussions between the department and the state's legal advisor's office would look into the legal mechanisms to stop irresponsible individuals from releasing alien predatory fishes into the rivers.
"Alien fish is a huge threat to the ecosystem as it ruins the habitat (of the indigenous species), devour the local fish and could even drive some species into extinction.
"At the moment, the situation is still under control, but before it gets worse, the department wants to amend the law so that those caught releasing the invasive species into rivers will be severely punished.
"The department has began discussions on the legal aspects to further strengthen the rules under the existing Pahang Fisheries Management Act 1991," he told reporters after releasing 25,300 lampan and kelah fish fries at Sungai Lipis at Kampung Melayu Benta here today.
He said currently the Fisheries Department had no power to arrest or prosecute individuals who release the invasive species in the rivers.
Mohd Soffi said the move to review and amend the existing law was vital to ensure the invasive species would not continue to pose a threat to the indigenous fish species.
"Introducing a new subsection into the existing regulations or law will allow the department to take action, including issuing compounds, against the offenders. I will raise the matter to be discussed during the state executive council meeting," he said.
He said the state Fisheries Department would continue to organise road shows and educate the public about the threat posed by the invasive species, including distributing pamphlets on the types of fishes.
Also present was state Fisheries Department director, Abdullah Jaafar.
Curently, the state Fisheries Department only has regulations under the Pahang Fisheries Management Act 1991 that can penalise culprits who are involved in killing the marine life using fish bombing and poison.
It was previously reported that anglers along Sungai Pahang have be frequently landing the red tail catfish species (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus), which originates from the Amazon River.
It was claimed that the species had escaped from an aquaculture farm along the river during the floods several years ago, devouring local fishes in Sungai Pahang and make them huge.