M. HAMZAH JAMALUDIN New Straits Times 6 Mar 14;
INDULGENCE: Food lovers willing to pay big money for exotic freshwater fish
KUANTAN: FOOD lovers are being cautioned that their demand for exotic freshwater fish dishes may encourage local fishermen and outsiders to catch prized species at prohibited areas, such as wildlife reserves or Taman Negara.
It has been reported that exotic food enthusiasts were willing to pay thousands of ringgit to enjoy several types of fish, such as kelah, temoleh and patin buah.
Although patin buah or silver catfish can be bought from fish breeders along Sungai Pahang, the wild ones are more sought after and can fetch RM60 per kg, while the cooked fare could sell between RM200 and RM300 per fish.
As for kelah and temoleh, each fish can reach up to RM1,000, depending on the size.
The two species are mostly found in Sungai Pahang tributaries in Jerantut with their sanctuaries being protected in Taman Negara and other streams that have been gazetted as red zones.
Apart from the upstream of Sungai Tembeling, the latest kelah red zones that have been gazetted by the Pahang Fisheries Department are Sungai Sepia and Sungai Gembir in Jerantut. Within the red zone, the public is only allowed to catch the species using a fishing rod, while other methods, such as casting a net, is forbidden.
However, those who want to catch the kelah in the red zone will have to pay a fee and be supervised by Fisheries Department staff.
A department spokesman said only temoleh (Probarbus jullieni) was under a special protection programme in Pahang and the public was not allowed to catch them from February to April.
Temoleh, known as tamalian in Pahang, is a highly prized fish served at a handful of restaurants in Temerloh and Jerantut.
Although kelah was not a protected species, the spokesman reminded the public that they were prohibited from catching them at Taman Negara and other kelah sanctuaries.
Read more: Surging appetite for wild fish - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/surging-appetite-for-wild-fish-1.499023#ixzz2v9GwaoPm
