Stop dumping pet fish in lakes, govt warns as alien species wiping out natives in Ampang lake

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry warns that releasing pet fish into lakes and public waterways can devastate Malaysia's freshwater ecosystem. In a recent effort to curb the invasion of alien species, 1,400 native fish fry were released into Tasik Ampang Hilir to restore a more balanced fish population.

Datuk Seri Isham Ishak, the ministry's secretary-general, emphasized the importance of strengthening mitigation through data-driven methods, community education, and cooperation among government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations. He stressed that if the issue is not addressed through education, it could become a culture that is hard to curb and a long-term problem.

The ministry is also reviewing existing regulations and considering banning certain fish species that threaten local ecosystems. The alien fish-catching program, which ran from 2022 to 2025, caught 19.74 tonnes of invasive fish, underscoring the urgency of tackling this issue. Of the 154 fish species found in Tasik Ampang Hilir, 146 were alien species, while only eight were native species.

Agrobank released the native fish fry into the lake, comprising 1,100 baung and 300 lampam sungai, to aid in the conservation of local species.