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Malay Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Still not safe to eat: Port Dickson mussels remain off-limits, biotoxin levels too high
SEREMBAN, Aug 15 — Laboratory tests on the second sample conducted by the Kuala Lumpur Fisheries Biosecurity Centre (PBPKL) on Tuesday on mussels and shellfish in Port Dickson waters found that the biotoxin reading was still above 800 parts per billion (ppb). Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department (JPNS) director Kasim Tawe said therefore the seafood is still unsafe as it could cause health problems and the ban on eating it is still in force. 'For the samples we took on Tuesday at two locations, namely in the waters of Kampung Teluk and Sungai Sekawang, the biotoxin readings were still above the limit. The third sample will be taken next week. 'As the results of the second sample still exceed the permitted level, JPNS will take samples and monitor the situation every week until the results of the biotoxin level are lower than the permitted level,' he told Bernama here today. In this regard, he once again reminded the public not to collect, take or harvest shellfish in the waters for a while. Earlier, the Telok Kemang Area Fishermen's Association claimed to have detected a phenomenon believed to be an algal bloom in Pasir Panjang waters and issued an announcement banning the sale and harvesting of shellfish (dwicengkerang) from the waters of Port Dickson. — Bernama
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Dept clears Port Dickson fish and prawns, warns on shellfish
PORT DICKSON, Aug 12 — Fish, prawns and squid in the waters of Port Dickson remain safe for consumption, Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department director Kasim Tawe said today. He added that marine life such as fish and prawns are safe to eat as these species look for their own food unlike the majority of cockles and mussels that are bred. 'Fish, prawns and species that move around aren't dangerous, but mussels and cockles are because they're bred, they absorb food from feeding filters for consumption. 'Their ability to keep toxins in their bodies is much higher and if it is in excess it can cause poisoning and affect human health,' he told reporters after taking the second sea water sample from Port Dickson here today The results of the second sample are expected on Thursday and the department will announce the next move based on the results, he said, adding that almost 100 mussel breeders and cockle gatherers in the Port Dickson area have been advised to stop looking for, gathering or harvesting shellfish temporarily. — Bernama
New Straits Times
07-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Fisheries Dept advises against releasing foreign fish species in public waters
SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan Fisheries Department has urged the public against releasing foreign fish species into public waters without first consulting the department. Its director Kasim Tawe said the department received a complaint regarding several individuals from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) who released fish into a drain at Jalan Lee Sam here on May 2. He said an inspection found that the fish released were African catfish, a foreign species considered a threat to native fish and the surrounding riverbed ecosystem. "Upon receiving the complaint, my team visited the location with representatives from the NGO and found around 50 non-native fish in the area, with water flowing into Sungai Linggi. "We informed them that African catfish are an invasive species and should not be released into public waters, as they pose a threat to native aquatic life," he told Bernama today. He said that, based on the water quality in the area, only two species, namely, puyu (climbing perch) and haruan (snakehead), are naturally suited to survive there. Kasim advised the public who wish to release fish into public waters to first refer to the Fisheries Department's website for information on which species are permitted and which are prohibited. Meanwhile, State Local Government Development, Housing and Transport Committee chairman J. Arul Kumar said the Seremban City Council (MBS) had been instructed to temporarily close off the area with immediate effect. "The public cannot arbitrarily release foreign fish or construct structures for that purpose in public waters without proper permission. "While the intention may be good, this is a public area and all activities must comply with established rules and procedures," he said. Earlier, a video showing a group of NGO members releasing non-native fish into the drain at Jalan Lee Sam went viral. –Bernama
