Predator Fish Threaten Local Endemic Ones: Expert

June 1, 2009

Release from: Theresia Sufa
Jakarta Post

An expert at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has called on the Bogor fishery agency to keep a watchful eye on some invasive fish, especially the predator ones, as they might threaten the existence of local endemic fish.

Some of the fish species to watch out for include the parrot fish (Lates niloticus), gold fish (Cyprinus carpio) and cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicos).

"These fish are actually not predators, but they can be competitors to Indonesian rare fish for space and food," said Reny K. Hadiati, a researcher of the Biological Research Center at LIPI recently.

"So, we suggested to the fishery agency not to spread these fish species into lakes. Sapu sapu fish (Pterygoplicthys pardalis) and black pomfret (Colossoma macropomum) are also included," said Reny.

The agency had often distributed the three aforementioned fish into the city's lakes in the hope that the residents near the lakes could benefit from them.

The other dangerous fish *pointed to* are alligator fish (Atractosteus spatula) and red piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri).

"These two species are the most dangerous because they are predators that can be real threats to the local fish. But as of today, many people still keep these fish at home or even breed them," sadi Reny.

"We can now find them along the city waterways, like the Ciapus River in Dramaga district and a river in Bandung (West Java)," she said.

The alligator fish is a fresh-water fish which came from North America. Its size can be about three meters long. It has a long crocodile-snout, while the piranha is a carnivorous fish originating from South America.

Forestry Minister issued a circular in August 1982, restricting the rights of people to import these two species of fish.

Reny called on the agency to spread local endemic species such as tawes fish, tor fish, known in Kalimantan as tambra fish, jurung fish in Sumatra and kancra fish in West Java.

She added this year LIPI found some new species, including Nemacheilidae fish in Tebo Lake, East Kalimantan and Glyptothorax ketambe fish in the Alas River in Aceh.

She said the country had many kinds of endemic species which were mostly found in lakes in Sulawesi. The Malili Lake, for instance, is home to 17 species of Telmatherana fish, which cannot be found in other places in the world, but only in Indonesia.

Despite the restrictions, many people still search for the pre-dator fish. Ucok, a fish vendor in Empang subdistrict claimed that many people come to him to buy alligator fish.

"I sell an alligator fish for Rp 200,000. My buyers do not mind the price. Many like it because the fish has a funny shape and comes from abroad," he said.