(my) three letters on indigenous fish

[Guest guest]

Thursday March 9, 2006 - The Star

 

Preserve Tasik Kenyir's indigenous fish

 

I WAS overjoyed when I read the report about the efforts to

rehabilitate Kelana Jaya lake and to protect indigenous fish species

there, " Need to preserve our parks " (The Star, March 4).

 

Then, lo and behold, we read about music composer Manan Ngah proudly

trumpeting about helping the Fisheries Department release 20,000

tilapia into the Tasik Kenyir in Hulu Terengganu, " Composer goes into

fish business " (Sunday Star, March 5).

 

Tasik Kenyir is in the heartland of Terengganu's virgin jungle which

is several million years old. The indigenous flora and fauna there is

as original as it gets.

 

The indigenous fish will not be able to withstand the onslaught of

20,000 tilapia.

 

Tilapia can be reared in any old mining pond. Tasik Kenyir's

indigenous fish will lose out to the tilapia and the delicate natural

balance will be forever destroyed.

 

HOPEFUL,

Petaling Jaya.

 

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Thursday March 9, 2006

 

Tilapia will upset eco-system of lake

 

I REFER to your report, " Composer goes into fish business " (Sunday

Star, March 5).

 

As much as I admire Manan Ngah's entrepreneurial skills, helping the

Fisheries Department release 20,000 tilapia fry into Tasik Kenyir

would change the eco-system of the lake forever.

 

The tilapia is not indigenous to our waters. Released into such a

large body of water, it would breed voraciously and colonise the

waters as its own.

 

Being of the Chiclid family, the tilapia is fierce and domineering,

eating up fry of the other species while fattening up to spawn – not

to mention the effects of contamination of the waters should the

tilapia be infected with diseases.

 

This means the depletion of indigenous fish species which, at this

moment, is on the brink of extinction! Fishes like the sebarau, kelah,

puyu and belida are already diminishing in great numbers every day due

to over-fishing, logging and pollution.

 

Further introduction of invasive alien species would seal their fate forever.

 

I appeal to Manan to reconsider his decision to use Tasik Kenyir for

his commercial fish farm.

 

A fish farm with a man-made pond would suffice just as well and would

not contribute to the further decline in population of our local fish

species.

 

Be proud of, and nurture, our local biological assets, as once they

are gone they are gone for good.

 

RICHARD CHUAN,

Public Relations and Multi Media,

Malaysian Angling Association,

Petaling Jaya.

 

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Thursday March 9, 2006

 

Alien species will damage environment

 

MANAN Ngah's act of releasing tilapia into Tasik Kenyir is potentially

disastrous, " Composer goes into fish business " (Sunday Star, March 5).

 

The fish may be kept in cages but some may escape into the rivers and

lakes. Before long we will find tilapia, which originates from the

Nile, in our Taman Negara.

 

Introducing an alien species into our waterways will cause

irreversible damage to the environment.

 

Native species which cannot compete with the invasive species or which

cannot cope with the changes will eventually die out.

 

All over the world, extinction of species are caused or hastened by

the intentional or unintentional introduction of alien species.

 

Trying to correct the mistake is next to impossible.

 

TANG TUCK HONG,

Shah Alam.