By Aida Aziz
IPOH: Three series of programmes to hunt invasive fish species in critical areas of Perak have been successfully carried out this year, yielding a high number of catches.
State Committee Chairman for Science, Environment and Green Technology, Teh Kok Lim, said among the fish species known to threaten river ecosystems are the sucker fish (Ikan Bandaraya), red-tail catfish, and Chao Phraya catfish.
He said the programmes were implemented by the Fisheries Department at Taman Dr. Seenivasagam, Ipoh; Kampung Sungai Galah; Kampung Gacah; and Dataran Victoria, Karai, Kuala Kangsar.
“In 2025, three series of programmes were implemented and successfully removed 9.4 tonnes of invasive fish, mainly sucker fish and red-tail catfish, from public waters in the state.
“On July 12–13 at Taman Dr. Seenivasagam, a total of 6,420 invasive sucker fish were caught, weighing 2.3 metric tonnes.
“At Kampung Sungai Galah and Kampung Gacah on August 16–17, a total of 14,521 invasive fish were captured, weighing 4 metric tonnes, including sucker fish, red-tail catfish, and Chao Phraya catfish.
“During the Perak Fish Fiesta 2025 at Dataran Victoria, Karai, Kuala Kangsar on October 18–19, 13,438 invasive fish were recorded, with a total weight of 3.1 metric tonnes, consisting of sucker fish and red-tail catfish,” he said.
Invasive species such as the sucker fish threaten river ecosystems by reducing native fish populations, damaging riverbanks through burrowing, and worsening flood risks.
This fish originates from South America and is an invasive species often released into rivers after becoming too large for home aquariums.
Its presence in Malaysian rivers has increased and poses a growing threat to native fish species.
