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DOF & UM Establish Natural Fish Research Collaboration

Home » Activities » DOF & UM Establish Natural Fish Research Collaboration

18 July 2024

The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) in collaboration with the University of Malaya (UM) implemented a program to release 36,600 seeds of native fish species at Varsiti Lake, UM as an initiative to increase the population and conserve the biodiversity of inland fisheries in Kuala Lumpur. The seeds of local native fish species that were released were river lampam fish, terbul fish, stingray, baung fish and 24 kelah broodstock worth RM 24,200.00.

Tuan Haji Wan Muhammad Aznan bin Abdullah, Deputy Director General of Fisheries (Management) said based on the inventory results and the clean and controlled environmental conditions of the lake, DOF and UM agreed to make this lake a natural fish research bank as a conservation measure to maintain the sustainability of the species in Kuala Lumpur waters which can then be developed into the country’s aquaculture sector.

He further explained that the native fish release programme should be intensified in order to provide exposure to students in the university as well as the public. the importance of safeguarding native fish in public waters as well as fostering awareness of the responsibility to ensure that the waters are not polluted.

Meanwhile, Professor Ir. Dr. Kaharudin Dimyati, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of the University of Malaya, said the University of Malaya, as a public higher education institution in the urban campus category, welcomes the initiative driven by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia to promote the role and function of the University of Malaya Varsity Lake as one of the main banks of local fish species for the waters of the Kuala Lumpur zone.

At the same programme, an exhibition of the inland fisheries sector was also held regarding prohibited equipment, fish species that are allowed and prohibited from being released in public waters. In addition, an exhibition on the history and activities carried out at Lake Varsiti UM was also exhibited.