No piranha found or caught at Klau Dam, but presence not ruled out, says Fisheries Dept

Kuantan, Oct 25 — During the Alien Fish Mitigation Programme at the Klau Dam in Raub, no piranha fish were found or caught, according to Fisheries Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain. However, this does not definitively rule out the species' presence, as previously confirmed sightings of piranhas in the area remain unverified. The two-day programme aimed to control alien fish populations and protect native fish species.

"No piranha fish were found or caught throughout this program. However, monitoring and scientific assessment must continue to identify the presence and distribution of the species," Hussain stated in a media release. The Department of Fisheries (DOF) also conducted research using the environmental DNA (eDNA) method during the programme, which involves analyzing water samples for genetic material left by aquatic organisms.

The final results of the eDNA research will be determined after analysis and scientific evaluation. The program, attended by 150 participants including anglers, cast-net users, and gill-net users, resulted in the capture of 156.6 kilograms of alien fish, predominantly Peacock Bass, Zebra Tilapia, and Javanese Carp.