Piranha, pacu can adapt to Malaysian waters, warns Fisheries Department

George Town has been warned by Malaysia's Fisheries Department about the potential impact of piranha and pacu adapting to the country's tropical freshwater environment. These foreign fish species are prohibited from being released into public waters, and the department is cracking down on their illegal possession and sale. Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain explained that piranha can theoretically survive and reproduce in Malaysian waters, given its similar tropical climate to their natural habitat in the Amazon River, Brazil.

He added that the department is investigating a fish caught recently at Klau Dam, which appears morphologically similar to a piranha, but a physical specimen is needed to confirm its identity. The department is also exploring DNA and environmental DNA analysis methods to identify the fish. While there have been no reports of sudden fish deaths or attacks following the sighting, the department continues to monitor the situation and enforce regulations on the import and sale of foreign fish species to protect Malaysia's aquatic ecosystem.