Tuesday September 10, 2024
The Sun —
A marine biologist has raised the alarm over three invasive South American catfish species that are threatening native fishes in the country’s riverine ecosystem.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Biology Department senior lecturer Prof Dr Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai identified the three species as the Amazon sailfin (pterygoplichthys pardalis), the suckermouth (hypostomus plecostomus) and the vermiculated sailfin (pterygoplichthys disjunctivus), which is found in huge numbers in Klang Valley rivers.
“The three catfish species can inflict serious long-term damage to our riverine ecosystems if their breeding is not curtailed. In time, they will decimate our native freshwater fish species as they overpopulate our rivers.
“While there have been occasional operations to catch and remove these catfish from our rivers, more concerted efforts and urgent steps must be taken to control their breeding before it is too late.”