IPOH: Two red-tailed catfish and three Alligator Gars were among 49 banned or invasive predatory fish seized by the Perak Fisheries Department yesterday from an ornamental fish breeding facility in Kampung Tawas.
Each of the fish were estimated to weigh about 3kg.
The department inspected the premises as part of the Banned Fish Awareness and Cleansing Operation at ornamental fish premises/shops in Perak.
The other fish seized were 42 eartheaters (Geophagus), one gulper catfish, and one flowerhorn fish, with the total estimated value of RM8,300.
The premises owner, in his 40s, admitted to raising the predatory fish for the past 10 years with claims that he was unaware of the regulations.
He was given a warning not to repeat the offence, with the risk of court action if he failed to comply.
State Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun said the awareness and cleansing programme, which began on Sept 18 and runs until tomorrow, targets ornamental fish shops and aquarium shops across the state.
In 2024, the department in Perak conducted 24 monitoring operations through Op Darat, covering approximately 30 aquarium premises across the state, including Ipoh, Teluk Intan and Ayer Tawar.
From these inspections, 15 premises were found in violation, leading to the seizure of 154 banned fish worth RM13,000.
Zolkafly said, for now, the 5M trend in Perak — which refers to the importing, owning, selling, breeding and displaying of ornamental fish from banned species, at premises or shops — is still under control.