KUANTAN, Oct 25 — No piranha fish were found or caught during the Alien Fish Mitigation Programme at the Klau Dam, Raub, which took place over two days starting yesterday, said Fisheries Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain.
However, this situation cannot be interpreted as proof that the species is no longer present in the dam, following previous reports confirming the discovery of piranhas in the area.
He said this mitigation program is one of the inland fisheries management efforts to control alien fish populations and reduce the risk of disruption to native fish species.
“No piranha fish were found or caught throughout this program. However, monitoring and scientific assessment must continue to identify the presence and distribution of the species,” he said via a media statement today.
Previously, a video went viral on social media regarding the discovery of a fish allegedly resembling a piranha at the Klau Dam, Raub, sparking various reactions from the public.
The Department of Fisheries (DOF) added in the same release that, apart from catching activities, research using the environmental DNA (eDNA) method was also carried out during this programme to help detect the possible presence of piranhas in the Klau Dam.
This method allows water samples to be analysed to detect genetic material that may have been left behind by aquatic organisms.
“The final results of the eDNA research will be determined after the analysis and scientific evaluation process is completed. Therefore, any conclusion regarding the status of piranha presence in the Klau Dam must take into account these analysis results alongside relevant monitoring information and field evidence,” according to the statement.
The DOF informed that this programme also aims to reduce the alien fish population, assess the fish composition in the dam’s waters, and increase public awareness of the threat posed by alien species to aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem balance.
The programme, conducted at the approximately 25-square-kilometer dam, involved 150 participants, consisting of 100 anglers, 32 cast-net participants, and 18 gill-net participants.
“Throughout the programme, a total of 156.6 kilograms of alien fish were recorded, involving three main groups, namely Peacock Bass, Zebra Tilapia, and Javanese Carp (Lampam Jawa),” according to the statement. — Bernama