PHOTO: 5 Malaysian Fisheries Department (DOF) injured and suffocated by giant arapaima fish

Five members of the Malaysian Fisheries Department (DOF) were injured by a giant arapaima fish during an operation to catch the invasive species here on Friday. The seven-hour operation starting at 9 am by a team of DOF Melaka members in collaboration with DOF Selangor faced difficulties due to the species acting aggressively.

Director-General of Fisheries, Datuk Adnan Hussain said, five members aged 35 to 59 who were injured were rushed to Alor Gajah Hospital. He said, two members each suffered shortness of breath and swelling in the knees due to being hit by the head of the arapaima fish, while the other three were slightly injured in the knees and chest.

“The operation however succeeded in catching three arapaima weighing 200 kilograms (kg) each with a length of about 2.7 meters. “These three mega-sized arapaima were successfully released at 4.30 pm,” he told Sinar Harian on Friday. He said the fish were fed by local residents and visitors to nearby restaurants every day. He said that the fish was handed over voluntarily by the owner when he knew that defending the fish was wrong under the law. “Voluntary surrender as an awareness to the owner and warned not to repeat the mistake of owning and defending prohibited fish. “All these fish have been brought to the National Zoo,” he said.

Adnan added, the investigation found that the fish had been protected since childhood by its owner and placed in a water reservoir under an abandoned building. “Action was taken by DOF Melaka through public complaints that are worried and concerned about the impact on the biodiversity of local fish species,” he said. MUHAMMAD AFHAM RAMLI October 11, 2024.