7 days ago
1.5 tonnes of African catfish caught in Maeps lake fishing competition
SERDANG: A total of 1.5 tonnes of African catfish were successfully caught during a fishing competition at Maeps Lake last Saturday.
Selangor Fisheries Department director Noraisyah Abu Bakar said the event organisers had prepared containers for participants to store the invasive species, particularly African catfish, for weighing and counting purposes.
"A total of 928 catfish were caught, with a combined weight of 1,100kg as of 1.30pm, when the competition ended.
"With approval from the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi), the organisers continued the fishing activity under the committee's supervision, before being informed that an additional 400kg of African catfish had been landed," she said.
She said the department was informed that unofficial fishing activity would be allowed at the lake until today and is open to visitors of the ShowTech 2025 programme.
Mardi is also expected to implement further mitigation measures, as discussed with the department.
Earlier, it was reported that some 2,000kg of African catfish, estimated at 1,300 fish averaging 1.5kg each, were believed to have been released into Maeps Lake last Thursday.
Following public complaints, the Fisheries Department conducted a site visit last Friday and held an engagement session on the matter.
The catfish were released by the organisers in conjunction with the ShowTech 2025 programme organised by Mardi, without prior notification or advisory consultation with the State Fisheries Office.
