WWF 14 Apr 15;
13 April, Petaling Jaya: WWF-Malaysia welcomes the decision by the authorities to suspend the proposed sturgeon project in Sungai Tabung, Kuala Tahan. Based on news reports in the Sinar Harian (Projek ternak sturgeon pindah on 23 March 2015) and The Rakyat Post (Environmentals Celebrate Victory Over Sturgeon Project on 24 March 2015), the proposed location for the project was deemed unsuitable due to the sensitivity of the area. Many parties, including local communities and NGOs, have highlighted their concerns regarding this project.
WWF-Malaysia is dedicated to undertaking biodiversity conservation projects to build resilience of the ecosystems. Hence, we share these concerns and are also of the opinion that the area is environmentally sensitive, especially due to the proximity of the area to Taman Negara. We believe that any sensitive ecosystem needs to be safeguarded completely against any ecologically unsustainable development and areas that have been compromised in any way, rehabilitated and restored. As some forests have already been cleared which had also caused siltation and affected the water quality of surrounding rivers as part of preliminary works for the proposed aquaculture farm at Kuala Tahan, we strongly call on the area to be restored, with the cost of restoration borne by the developer.
While WWF-Malaysia welcomes the news that the project will not go ahead near Taman Negara, we are concerned that it will still be implemented by relocating it to another site. We urge the government to reconsider the decision to proceed with this project based on the following reasons. The introduction of a non-native species, such as the sturgeon, through an aquaculture project involves risks and this includes accidental release of the species into local river systems. The potential long term impacts of accidental release of a non-native species into our freshwater or other natural ecosystems may not be adequately known, and could be detrimental and irreversible.
We understand that an Import Risk Analysis for certain sturgeon species has been carried out by the Department of Fisheries. Some of the potential risks associated with this species may have been assessed through this analysis. In view of the concerns regarding this project, we appeal to the government to make this analysis public.
In the absence of well-established scientific evidence that sturgeons will not impact or pose any risks to our local ecosystem, we strongly urge the government to halt this sturgeon project and to prohibit future farming of new non-native species in Malaysia.
Dato’ Dr Dionysius S.K. Sharma
Executive Director/CEO
WWF-Malaysia
