Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail
PETRA JAYA: The native fish fry release program will continue in several selected locations throughout Sarawak, especially in areas implementing the tagang project, as a step to restore the ecosystem and increase the fish population in the state's rivers.
Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said that this effort was implemented by the Sarawak Agriculture Department (JPS) by releasing local fish fry species such as empurau, tengadak and lang galah, which were bred through inland fisheries stations under the supervision of the department.
"This program is one of the important initiatives in maintaining the sustainability of inland fisheries resources in Sarawak," he said when answering a question from Datuk Chee Kadir (GPS – Kabong) at the Fourth Session of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly, today.
He also informed that his ministry, in collaboration with various agencies, had recently implemented the Invasive Alien Fish Hunting Program in Sarawak Rivers.
He added that the program aims to reduce the threat of alien species that disrupt the balance of the local ecosystem, as well as provide education and awareness to the community about the dangers of invasive fish.
According to him, the fishing methods used include fishing rods, nets, seines, traps and gillnets, carried out along a length of one kilometer from the Petanak Wet Market Jetty to the Kampung Gersik Miners Jetty.
The invasive alien fish caught will be disposed of while the native species will be released back into their original habitat.
In a related development, he also informed that the Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department (JPLS) is implementing the Fisheries Resource Development and Management Project through the installation of artificial reefs in the state's waters.
"A total of 17 units of Soft Base Reefs were anchored in the Kabong waters in July last year, and another 17 units are scheduled for this August.
"The Sarawak Government has also allocated RM30 million for the installation of artificial reefs from 2023 to 2025, involving an area of 746 kilometers," he added.
