PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Fisheries (DOF) said today there is no evidence yet of an established or breeding piranha population in the Klau Dam, Raub, following the catch of a fish suspected to be of the species on Aug 26.
Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said only one such fish had so far been reported caught in the area, while investigations and field monitoring by the Pahang Fisheries Department up to Sept 15 found no additional catches or related safety incidents.
"Based on the technical assessment by the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) in Glami Lemi, Negeri Sembilan, of photographs and video recordings of the fish, its observable morphological characteristics are consistent with the genus Pygocentrus, which is the piranha group.
"However, definitive confirmation at species level cannot be made as the physical specimen was not available for further examination. The fish was reported to have died and been disposed of by the individual who caught it before the investigation was conducted," he said in a statement on Thursday.
Previously, social media was abuzz with claims of piranhas in the Klau Dam, including posts alleging that the fish had eaten a crocodile, raising concern among netizens over the possible presence of the alien species in the waters.
Adnan reminded the public not to panic, saying the DOF would continue regular monitoring at the Klau Dam and surrounding areas to identify any new developments, while increasing public awareness of the risks of releasing alien or invasive fish species into public waters.
He also said that releasing alien fish species that could become invasive into public waters was irresponsible as it could adversely affect inland aquatic ecosystems, local fish populations and aquatic biodiversity.
"If a fish suspected to be an alien species such as this is caught, do not release it back into the water. Keep the specimen if it is still in suitable condition and immediately contact the nearest fisheries office for further examination and analysis, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing if required," he said.
The public is advised to obtain information from official DOF sources and avoid spreading unverified information to prevent confusion and speculation.
