Labuan Fisheries Dept Boosts Ecosystem With 2,500 Siakap Fry Release

LABUAN, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- The Labuan Fisheries Department released 2,500 Siakap (barramundi) fry into the Kinabenuwa Mangrove River today, as part of efforts to boost local fish stocks.

This initiative marks the first in a series of releases scheduled for this year, following the previous one in October, when 2,300 Siakap fry were introduced into the same river.

Labuan fisheries director Sufian Ahmad said this latest release brings the total number of Siakap fry released into the river to 12,650 since the programme's inception in 2021.

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“The Kinabenuwa Mangrove River has been identified as an ideal location for these releases due to its suitable ecosystem, which supports the growth of fish stocks in public waters,” Sufian said during the release event.

Labuan Fisheries Department has released approximately 12,000 saltwater Siakap fry into Sungai Kinabenuwa between 2021 and 2023.

Sufian also urged the public to act responsibly when managing foreign fish species kept as pets.

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“Releasing non-native species into public waters can disrupt the local ecosystem, as these foreign species may be more aggressive and outcompete native fish for resources,” he said.

Sufian further highlighted that from 2016 to 2021, the Fisheries Department successfully released 44.7 million fish fry, valued at over RM50 million, into public waters across Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.

-- BERNAMA