Piranha, pacu can adapt to Malaysian waters, warns Fisheries Department

GEORGE TOWN: Piranha and pacu can adapt to Malaysia's tropical freshwater environment, raising concerns about their potential impact if released into local waters.

Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said both species were foreign fish prohibited from being released into public waters, with enforcement continuing against their illegal possession and sale.

He said piranha could theoretically survive and reproduce in Malaysian waters as its natural habitat in the Amazon had a tropical climate similar to Malaysia's.

"If we look at the original ecosystem of piranha in the Amazon River, Brazil, it has an equatorial climate like ours.

"So, generally, it could reproduce in our ecosystem because the weather is similar to its natural habitat," he told reporters after launching the Marine Education Centre at Angsana Teluk Bahang here today.

Adnan said this made it important for the department to establish whether a fish reportedly caught at Klau Dam recently was a piranha or pacu.

He said preliminary analysis of video footage showed the fish's morphology appeared closer to that of a piranha, but the department could not confirm its identity as the physical specimen had been discarded.

"We can only conclude that it resembles the piranha genus. However, we cannot confirm the species because we only have video footage and no physical specimen," he said.

Adnan said the department had contacted inland fishermen operating around Klau Dam and asked them to preserve and surrender any suspected piranha or pacu caught in the area.

He said a physical specimen would allow the department to examine its morphology, scales and teeth before confirming its genus and species.

Adnan said the department was also exploring DNA and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis with Aquaria KLCC, which has live piranha specimens and DNA references.

"We will work with Aquaria to identify the fish through DNA and eDNA analysis and determine its genus and species," he said.

Adnan said the department had yet to establish whether a piranha population existed at Klau Dam, stressing that the available evidence remained inconclusive.

"I cannot confirm it because we only have one video, and even the location was based on a claim that it was at Klau Dam. We do not have concrete evidence at this time. We are still monitoring the situation," he said.

He said the department had also received reports from other inland fishermen who claimed to have encountered similar fish, but the specimens had been discarded, preventing verification.

Adnan said there had been no reports of sudden fish deaths or anglers being attacked by suspected piranha following the reported sighting.

He also warned that prohibited ornamental fish continued to be offered for sale online, prompting the department to engage platform operators on the requirements governing foreign fish species.

He said even permitted foreign live fish brought into Malaysia must be accompanied by a health certificate to ensure they were free from diseases that could threaten the country's aquatic ecosystem.

"We will continue inspections at ornamental fish premises nationwide and take action where necessary to ensure our ecosystem remains protected from invasive fish species," he said.

Adnan said those found possessing prohibited fish without approval could face a fine of up to RM100,000 under the Fisheries Act 1985.

He added that holders of permits for foreign ornamental fish must maintain traceability and report the status of their fish to the department, including when they die, to prevent them from being released into public waters.