Public can view banned fishes in Penang aquarium
GEORGE TOWN: Those who want to know what fishes they cannot import can refer to a 20-tonne fish tank at the Aquarium Tunku Abdul Rahman (AkuTAR) in Batu Maung.
The Fisheries Research Institute, which runs the aquarium, showcases fishes which are forbidden from being imported to the country in the RM136,000 tank.
Fisheries Department DirectorGeneral, Datuk Ismail Abu Hassan, said there were six species of fish – Alligator Fish, Red Claw, Sturgeon, Peacock Bass, Mylossoma and Plaractus – in the tank and more will be added soon.
He said these species were not allowed to be brought in under the Fishing Regulations (Prohibited Imports for Fish and Others) 1990 under the ambit of the Fisheries Act 1985.
The tank was set up to raise awareness and educate the public on foreign invasive species which could threaten the local ecological balance.
“Such fishes, when released in Malaysian rivers or ponds, can spread non-native disease that can be difficult to treat,” said Ismail.
“Furthermore, aggressive foreign fish species could eat local fishes and decimate the local population and lead to an imbalanced biodiversity.”
Ismail also urged the public and other private or public aquarium owners, who rear forbidden species to report to the department.
He said owners have to apply for permits to sell, keep or to import such fishes.
“Those who fail to do so can be fined a RM1,000 or a year in jail or both,” he said.
Those who legally imported such fishes need to tag them with chips so they can be traced if released into the wild, he said. – by Ong Jo Yi