DANGEROUS FISH: Get rid of the predators

SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) would like to raise concerns with regard to the presence of predator fish in our waterways.

This is a serious problem considering that fish, invasive plants, snails, mussels or parasites can destroy existing aquatic communities on entering a new river or reservoir.An invasive species can affect the ecosystem in several ways. Some aquarium species may have no natural predators in the region where they have been released, resulting in their rapid multiplication without being combated by natural enemies.

Other aquarium species will happily gulp down the native flora or fauna that have no protection from this new and unknown enemy. A very successful predator can also harm other predators, since they will compete for food. Invasive species may interbreed with native species, thereby changing the gene pool.

Many of these invaders have already entered our borders, destroying existing aquatic communities.The risk that these alien species can cause significant harm is exacerbated by a considerable lack of awareness of the severity of the invasive alien species problem, especially among policy makers, government departments as well as seriously inadequate technical support.Pet shops and aquariums, which are allowed to flourish everywhere by the town councils, are equally to blame for the spread of alien species.

Many indigenous plants and animals are ill-prepared for the fierce competition from invaders entering cargo ships and airliners, as pets for the pet trade. The other drivers of biological invasion are of course international trade, travel and transport.Irresponsible aquarists are equally at fault for releasing their fish into the wild when they have grown bored of their aquariums or want to get rid of the fish for some illogical reason.

Their very action will cause considerable harm for which society is paying the consequences .Besides, aquarium inhabitants can also carry microbes that may find new hosts to infect -- hosts that have no way of combating it.Sometimes, sport fishing provides the catalyst. For instance, black bass were brought in to Japan from California by a Japanese angler in 1925 who enjoyed the fight they provided at the end of the fishing line.

While countries all over the world struggle against aggressive invasive species, the Fisheries Department, Wildlife and National Parks Department and Veterinary Department are ill-prepared for the fierce competition from "invaders" entering our country.The gravity of the situation calls for solutions. There is an urgent need to convince consumers to curb their appetite for exotic and endangered animal species. Laws providing heavy fines to prevent foreign imported species being abandoned should be considered in the revised Wildlife Act, the Animal Act 2006 and the Fisheries Act.

The revised laws should provide for all alien species to have identity chips inserted in their bodies.Pet shops and animal-related facilities should be banned from importing foreign species.Political commitment, in terms of policy, legislation, enforcement and implementation, is needed to prevent and manage invasive alien species.This can be initiated through national and regional strategies. Action plans have to be drawn up to conserve biodiversity against invasion impacts