Latest news with #FisheriesDepartment
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Science
- New Straits Times
Authorities, organisers must better monitor release of fish
KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities and fishing competition organisers must better monitor the release and removal of fish in lakes, especially non-native species, to prevent ecological harm. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu senior research fellow at the Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology, Professor Datuk Dr Mazlan Abd Ghaffar said organisers should also record the average size of fish released into lakes to identify whether recaptured fish are new or existing ones. He warned that even enclosed lakes could overflow during heavy rain, allowing invasive species like African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) to escape and disrupt native ecosystems. "The African catfish is a very hardy catfish species and very aggressive compared to local indigenous fish species, as they pose a greater ecological threat due to their behaviour and rapid growth," he told the New Straits Times. Once released into rivers, they can outcompete native species, disrupt food chains and take over natural habitats, he added. "For competitions, organisers must ensure that participants take the fish home and cook them - this would prevent further ecological harm… and ensure that these fish are not discarded back into the river after the competition. "The Fisheries Department, too, should also monitor the number of fish released and removed, tracking the inflow and outflow accurately," he said. Asked about the impact of the species entering rivers, Mazlan said these aggressive, fast-growing fish will compete for food and outcompete native species. He said the risk of them preying on indigenous species is high. The Fisheries Department has announced that it will draft new regulations to strengthen control activities of fish release into public waters, following complaints regarding the release of African catfish into Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) Lake. The fish were released in conjunction with a fishing competition organised by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) for the Showtech 2025 programme. The department said the fishing competition's secretariat will install additional hapa nets, provide bins to collect African catfish caught during the competition, and disseminate awareness material while carrying out fishing activities throughout the programme. Earlier, on May 7, the Fisheries Department had also advised against the release of foreign fish species into public waters without proper consultation, following an incident on May 2 involving a non-governmental organisation releasing fish into a drain at Jalan Lee Sam. An inspection found that the fish released was also African catfish.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Landowner disputes erupt as fishermen are pushed off beach: 'We are not doing this by choice'
Fishermen in the coastal state of Goa, India, have found themselves fighting a surprising battle over the ability to park their boats as an ever-imposing sea takes over more and more land. For generations, reports O Heraldo, fishermen in the village of Benaulim, located on Goa's coast, have parked their boats along the beach at the end of each day. However, the ocean's continued encroachment has forced them out of their traditional parking spots and onto private property. This has prompted the owner of that land to issue a formal complaint, demanding that the fishermen remove their boats. The fishermen have appealed to the Fisheries Department to protect them, according to a mid-May report. "We are not doing this by choice. The sea is claiming more of the beach every year," one fisherman told the local outlet. "We're requesting the government to intervene and help us before this situation worsens." While this may seem like little more than a simple land dispute, it points to a much bigger issue. As our planet warms due to the production of heat-trapping gases like methane and carbon dioxide, one of the biggest threats to humanity and to the environment is rising sea levels. Extreme heat is melting glaciers, the water from which is causing our oceans to rise, with the most recent data indicating a rate of 4.5 millimeters per year, according to a 2024 paper published in Nature. That kind of rapid rise is quickly altering the coastlines of countries around the world, and small island nations have been among the first to feel the most serious threats. As time goes on and with sea levels set to continue their upward trajectory, many more regions will face ocean incursion, flooding, powerful storm surges, and displacements. Currently, marginalized groups, such as lower-income fishing communities, are being disproportionately impacted. The displaced fishermen have called on the Fisheries Department to allocate a designated area for boat storage to avoid further conflicts with private landowners, per O Heraldo. They also want help for those who are struggling due to a lack of facilities. Coming together to support pro-environment policies and global investments in resilient infrastructure for communities in need can make a big difference for those on the front lines of climate change. Another way to help in the fight against rising temperatures is to reduce the use of dirty energy sources that produce heat-trapping pollution. One option for homeowners is to install solar panels to generate clean energy. A solar system can also bring monthly power bills down to close to $0, and EnergySage's free tools can not only make it easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers but can also help save homeowners up to $10,000 on installations. Staying up to date on the worldwide impacts of our warming world can be useful, especially in having conversations with friends, family, and community members about catalyzing actions closer to home that can still have far-reaching effects. Organizing a ride-share program, for example, is just one small activity that can help to curb the higher temperatures that drive sea level rise. Do you think gas stoves should be banned nationwide? No way Let each state decide I'm not sure Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
15 years on, kin of missing fishermen still await compensation
Over 15 years after the tragic disappearance of eight fishermen from Kanniyakumari district during Cyclone Phyan in 2009, their families are still awaiting compensation from the government. The affected families say they too deserve relief assistance similar to which was extended to the families of the victims of Cyclone Ockhi in 2017. The mechanised boat owned by J. Rebelon had ventured into the sea on November 11, 2009, and reportedly capsized in the Kerala coastal waters during Cyclone Phyan. While three fishermen on board the boat survived with injuries, eight others went missing. They were identified as S. Mariarajan, S. Dasan, D. Romans, A. Anish, P. Stalin, G. Jimmy Kuttan, all from Thoothoor, J. Sessadimai from Vallavilai and I. John Clittous from Poothurai. The families of five fishermen were provided with ₹2 lakh compensation, each one lakh from Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Board and relief under Group Accident Insurance Scheme. But the families of the remaining fishermen were provided with ₹1 lakh only, since they are not members of the welfare board. However, the families of these fishermen are currently battling to get compensation from the government on a par with the relief given during Cyclone Ockhi. Liba, daughter of Sessadimai, said, it had been over 15 years, but no compensation was provided by the government. 'They said death certificates could be issued after seven days. But even after obtaining the death certificate, the process is still on hold,' she added. Ms. Liba highlighted that the government had declared Cyclone Okhi a natural disaster and provided compensation for the fishermen who went missing. 'This is also the same scenario, that these fishermen also went missing during the cyclone. The only difference is that it has not been declared a natural disaster,' she noted. Asha, sister of Jimmy Kuttan, in her weeping voice said the compensation would be really helpful to the kin of the missing fishermen, as most of them were the earning members of their families. The death of her brother had affected the family, both financially and emotionally, and the family members were planning to sell their house in Thoothoor due to financial difficulties, she added. An official from the Fisheries Department said they had obtained death certificates a few years ago and their petitions were currently under consideration.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
New regulations to control release of invasive fish species being drawn up
KUALA LUMPUR: The Fisheries Department will draft new regulations to strengthen control activities of fish release into public waters. It announced the move today following complaints regarding the release of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) into Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) Lake. The fish were released in conjunction with a fishing competition organised by the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) for the Showtech 2025 programme. According to the statement, after a site visit and engagement session involving department representatives, Mardi and the organising company yesterday, several mitigation measures were agreed upon. "The fishing competition's secretariat will install additional hapa nets, provide bins to collect African catfish caught during the competition, and disseminate awareness material while carrying out fishing activities throughout the programme. "Mardi will ensure compliance with the installation of nets, open the lake to controlled fishing activities, and coordinate the inventory and disposal of alien fish after the programme concludes. "The Fisheries Department will also support this effort through the provision of awareness materials and related technical advisory services," the statement said. Regarding the release of the African catfish, the department said that investigations found that 2,000kg of the fish species, estimated at 1,300 fish with an average weight of 1.5kg each, were released into the lake on May 29. This was done without any notification or request for advisory services from the Selangor Fisheries office. The statement advised all parties to always seek technical advice from the state Fisheries office before carrying out any fish release activities into public waters. This is to avoid negative whiplash on the environment and the country's natural resources as an invasive species can eliminate native fish species. According to the department, the move is also to ensure that actions taken are in line with the principles of environmental sustainability, and do not pose a risk of invasive species to the local water ecosystem.
The Sun
4 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Over 4.4 tonnes of invasive fish removed from local waters since 2022
PEKAN: The Fisheries Department has removed over 4.4 tonnes of non-native fish species from Malaysian waters since 2022 through 17 operations targeting invasive fish. Its director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the operations were aimed at eliminating aggressive, fast-breeding foreign species that threaten local biodiversity by competing for food and habitat. He said Malaysia is home to more than 449 native freshwater fish species, including the kelah, temoleh, sebarau and river catfish, which are ecologically and economically important. 'However, invasive species such as peacock bass, African catfish, redtail catfish and the Amazon sailfin catfish or bandaraya fish, are now threatening the sustainability of our aquatic biodiversity,' he told reporters after officiating the Invasive Fish Species Awareness programme and the 'Moh! Tangkap Baung Ekor Merah' (Catch the Redtail Catfish) competition here today. Based on recent reports, the redtail catfish population is notably high in Sungai Pahang and is also present in Sungai Perak and Sungai Selangor, indicating the species' ability to adapt easily to local aquatic environments. He did not rule out the possibility that these invasive fish were initially brought in by aquaculture operators from neighbouring countries and later escaped into natural waterways during floods. Despite the ecological threat, Adnan said that the redtail catfish has commercial value due to its market price, which has encouraged some communities to catch and sell the fish as a source of income. 'However, this should not lead to complacency. We need coordinated efforts to reduce the population of these invasive species, including raising public awareness about their threat to local ecosystems,' he said. Among the initiatives taken is the organisation of invasive fish-catching competitions aimed at removing these species from national waters to reduce their population and ecological impact. During the event, the department also presented RM331,400 in Matching Grant Assistance under the Aquaculture Integration Development Programme to three main participants of the Rizqi Cluster, as well as RM66,000 in living allowance aid to 22 fishermen in the district.
