Piranha in Pahang? Fisheries Department calls in Aquaria KLCC for DNA backup

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) is collaborating with Aquaria KLCC to identify fish suspected to be piranhas found at Klau Dam, Raub, Pahang, using DNA or environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. Director-General of Fisheries Datuk Adnan Hussain stated that this collaboration would leverage live piranha specimens and existing DNA data held by Aquaria KLCC to determine the fish's identity.

Preliminary analysis by the Glami Lemi Fisheries Research Institute suggested that the fish's morphological characteristics more closely resembled those of a piranha, but definitive identification required a physical specimen. The Pahang Fisheries Department has instructed fishermen to retain and surrender any fish resembling piranhas for examination.

If confirmed, the presence of a non-native species such as the piranha could theoretically adapt and reproduce in Malaysia's equatorial climate. The DOF also plans to meet with online platform operators regarding allegations of prohibited fish species still being sold on their platforms.

Brief written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.