(MY) sanctuary for fish

October 13, 2005

*New Straits Times* <http://www.nst.com.my/> »

l>

Sanctuary for prized kelah

<news

*KUALA TERENGGANU, 13th Oct 2005*

------------------------------

*Sungai Petang, one of the seven rivers that act as a spawning ground for

the highly-prized kelah (Malayan Mahseer), has been declared a sanctuary.*

This means that the river, which starts at the Terengganu side of the

National Park, is now off limits to all forms of fishing.

The sanctuary status came 10 years after the Fisheries Department first

proposed turning the river into a conservation area to stop the depletion of

kelah and other species, including baung (catfish), lampam and arowana

(dragon fish).

The announcement was made by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh today.

The river becomes the second in the Tasik Kenyir area where fishing is

barred. The other is Sungai Cacing, about 30 minutes away by boat.

" Kelah is depleting fast due to over-fishing, " Idris said.

" We do not want to lose this heritage to greed. Apart from allowing it to

spawn naturally, we will also introduce artificially-spawned fry. "

Idris said the decision to turn Sungai Petang into a sanctuary would not be

popular among the 60 traditional fishermen operating at the lake.

" But I am not here to become popular. I am here to ensure that resources

indigenous to the State, and which are also a heritage for the people, are

protected at all costs. "

Idris said three other rivers, the Sungai Petuang, Sungai Tembat and Sungai

Terengganu Mati, would be closed for four months during the spawning season,

beginning early next month.

Idris said he was looking at the possibility of restricting commercial

freshwater fishing to the confines of certain areas in the lake and allowing

only the use of hooks and lines.

Since the early 1990s, the Fisheries Department has released into the rivers

more than a million fry, including temoleh and patin, species indigenous to

Pahang and Perak.

Recommended Posts