KIULU: The Sabah Fisheries Department (SFD) has issued a temporary ban on bringing in or taking out pelian fish (mahseer) from affected rivers, here, following reports of fish deaths in several Tagal (community-managed) areas along Sungai Kiulu.
Department Director, Datin Dr Shuhadah Mustapha, said the move was taken after the department’s biosecurity division received complaints about dead mahseer showing clinical symptoms since Sept 29.
“The Tagal community reported signs such as gill rot, abdominal haemorrhage, and weakened swimming among the freshwater fish,” she said when contacted, Monday.
Dr Shuhadah said the restriction aims to control and prevent the possible spread of disease.
“The ban on bringing fish in means no new fish species should be introduced into the affected river, while the ban on taking fish out means no live mahseer should be removed for restocking elsewhere,” she said.
She emphasised that the directive was made under Part VII – Control of Fish Diseases of the Sabah Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Enactment 2003, which provides penalties of up to RM50,000 in fines or two years’ imprisonment, or both, for those found in violation.
The Tagal community has also been instructed to remove and dispose of affected mahseer showing clinical symptoms by either burying or burning them.
A video and several photographs recently circulated on social media showed mahseer displaying the symptoms before being found by villagers in here.
SFD officers have since visited the site to collect samples and conduct investigations to determine the cause.