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PUTRAJAYA – The Department of Fisheries (DOF) said today there is no evidence of an established or breeding piranha population in the Klau Dam, Raub, following the capture of a fish suspected to be a piranha on Aug 26.
Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said only one fish suspected to be a piranha 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 further catches or related safety incidents.
“Based on a technical assessment by the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) in Glami Lemi, Negeri Sembilan, of photographs and video recordings of the fish, its observable physical characteristics are consistent with the genus Pygocentrus, which comprises several piranha species.
“However, the species cannot be confirmed 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 today.
Previously, social media was abuzz with claims that piranhas had been found in the Klau Dam, including unverified claims that the fish had eaten a crocodile, raising concerns among members of the public about the possible presence of the non-native species in the waters.
Adnan urged the public not to panic, saying the DOF would continue monitoring the Klau Dam and surrounding areas for any new developments, while raising awareness of the risks of releasing alien or invasive fish species into public waters.
He said 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.
