(MY) fish to go into Malaysia' s Book of Record

[Guest guest]

Letters to the editor. 11th

Sept. 2002

 

Place the welfare of fishes above record breaking mentality

Another record breaking feat coming up! The Taiping MCA division will soon

release some 30 000 Japanese carp into West Lake - one of the four lakes at

Lake Garden. It is expected to make its entry into the Malaysia Book of Records

for the most number of Japanese carp released for breeding.

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is just as concerned over the welfare of fishes as

with all living things and wondered about the consequences of this act with

regard to the survival of the fishes.

 

While the Fisheries Department study revealed that the release of the fish

would not jeopardise the lake's ecosystem or have an impact on the ecology, has

there been an assessment and inventory study for predator presence underneath

the waters of the lake and after the release, will there be a follow up

monitoring of the lake ecosystem? Has a study been done into the quality of

the lake water?

 

Another point to consider is to the availability of food and whether natural

food abounds in an enclosed ecosystem such as a mining pool.

 

In a pool environment without proper filtration system one wonders whether the

pool will become polluted in the long term with the accumulation of faeces and

leftover feed.

 

Then the question of public feeding also arises. Apart from the feed, litters

in the form of plastic bags, tin cans and other forms of rubbish are bound to

make their way into the lake. As with all fish ponds whether in the temple or

public places the state of any fish pond in the country is always in a neglected

state. Will the Taiping Lake become another eyesore?

 

Furthermore the release of the fishes into the pond is bound to set precedent as

a dumping ground for unwanted aquatic species which their owners have grown

weary of, such as the red eared slider.

 

With the thousands of koi swimming about, poaching of these fishes is certainly

to occur and thrill seekers and mischief makers are going to have a field day

with the fishes.

 

Considering the frenzy of getting into the Book of Record and the emotion that

has already come into the picture, it will be unrealistic to expect logic and

reason to prevail.

 

Just like the previous 'record breaking mentality' of our country leaders where

100 000 trees were planted in a minute resulting in deteriorating and dying

trees, will the carp suffer a similar fate?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letters to the editor. 11th

Sept. 2002

 

 

 

Place the welfare of fishes above record breaking mentality

 

 

Another record breaking feat coming up! The Taiping MCA division will soon

release some 30 000 Japanese carp into West Lake - one of the four lakes at

Lake Garden. It is expected to make its entry into the Malaysia Book of Records

for the most number of Japanese carp released for breeding.

 

 

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is just as concerned over the welfare of fishes as

with all living things and wondered about the consequences of this act with

regard to the survival of the fishes.

 

 

 

While the Fisheries Department study revealed that the release of the fish

would not jeopardise the lake's ecosystem or have an impact on the ecology, has

there been an assessment and inventory study for predator presence underneath

the waters of the lake and after the release, will there be a follow up

monitoring of the lake ecosystem? Has a study been done on the quality of the

lake water?

 

 

 

Another point to consider is to the availability of food and whether natural

food abounds in an enclosed ecosystem such as a mining pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a pool environment without proper filtration system one wonders whether the

pool will become polluted in the long term with the accumulation of faeces and

leftover feed.

 

 

 

Then the question of public feeding also arises. Apart from the feed, litters

in the form of plastic bags, tin cans and other forms of rubbish are bound to

make their way into the lake. As with all fish ponds whether in the temple or

public places the state of any fish pond in the country is always in a neglected

state. Will the Taiping Lake become another eyesore?

 

 

 

Furthermore the release of the fishes into the pond is bound to set precedent as

a dumping ground for unwanted aquatic species which their owners have grown

weary of, such as the red eared slider.

 

 

 

With the thousands of koi swimming about, poaching of these fishes is certainly

to occur and thrill seekers and mischief makers are going to have a field day

with the fishes.

 

 

 

Considering the frenzy of getting into the Book of Record and the emotion that

has already come into the picture, it will be unrealistic to expect logic and

reason to prevail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just like the previous 'record breaking mentality' of our country leaders where

100 000 trees were planted in a minute resulting in deteriorating and dying

trees, will the carp suffer a similar fate?

 

(S M Mohd Idris

 

President