145.79kg of invasive fish landed at Silverlake Village hunt
Nearly 100 anglers joined the Moh Buru Ikan Asing @ Silverlake contest in Batu Gajah aimed at cutting the number of foreign fish species in local waters.
BATU GAJAH – A total of 145.79kg of foreign fish from various species were landed during the Moh Buru Ikan Asing @ Silverlake programme held at Silverlake Village on July 25.
The programme was organised by the Kinta District and Land Office, Batu Gajah, in cooperation with Silverlake Village Outlet (SVO) and the Kinta Utara Community Welfare Organisation, in conjunction with Fiesta Perak Sejahtera 2030, Kinta District 2026.
The fishing competition was also supported by the Perak Fisheries Department, Batu Gajah District Council, the Kinta Public Works Department, TCE Tackles and several other government agencies.
The contest focused on invasive species such as peacock bass (PB), Mayan cichlid, pleco and rohu. Its main aim was to reduce the large population of foreign fish at the site, while also informing the public on the importance of protecting the country's public water ecosystems.
Nearly 100 participants
Anglers began arriving to register as early as 7am, with close to 100 taking part. SVO management allowed a very wide fishing radius, stretching from North Lake Village to West Lake Village.
The format was based on cumulative weight of foreign fish species only, with participants free to use bottom fishing or casting.
Two categories were contested — Youth (13 to 18 years old) and Open (19 and above) — with each category winner taking home RM1,000 in cash.
Participants were released to fish at about 8am, and the closing siren sounded at 3pm before judges tallied the scores. Prizes were presented at 5pm by the Chairman of the Rural, Plantation, Agriculture and Food Industry Committee, Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun.
Kinta District Officer Zulhisham Ahmad Shukori described such events as very good and said they should be held periodically to help improve local water ecosystems that are beginning to be overrun by foreign species.
Results
Muhamad Rizuan Ibrahim won the Open category with a total catch of 24.27kg, while Putra Adam Fitri Kamaruzaman took the Youth title with 7.032kg.
Another goal of the contest — to make it a family programme — was also achieved, with many participants attending together with their families.
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