The Tilapia Issue

Vincent · April 3, 2006, 10:31pm

With the recent debate in The Star on the tilapia issue, I have chronologically printed out the letters from The Star online at the main page: http://www.fishing.net.my/default.asp?id=1&ACT=5&content=18&mnu=1

Not everyone has the time to write to the papers but you can now share your opinions here.

The good thing I learn about this issue is that a few years back, many of us don’t care about the environment. But now we do see the changes in many Malaysians who are exposed to worldly issues on environmental awareness. This is a positive sign for us.

Regards,
Vincent

* Team Spinboyz - U1 2004 * Team MalPro - U2 2004 * Team Lucky Craft Happy Hookers - U3 2005 * Marshall - U4 2006 *

“We (MFN forumers) are a few but together we are many. We are many among the millions of anglers yet to have their voices heard” - Majulah sukan memancing untuk negara

xx_5 · April 3, 2006, 11:36pm

Vincent,

It’s good that you have posted this issue for debate. As concerned Malaysians, we should be allowed to have a say in policies and plans that would shape our future.

Following Mr Ng’s comments in the Star, I replied in another Letter to the Editor which was however not published. Sad to say, at that time the Shah Alam floods took precedence.

I post herewith extract of that letter which I feel is not only a suitable reply to Mr Ng’s article but for the more recent comments by the Fisheries Department.

quote:

Persatuan Memancing Malaysia or the Malaysian Angling Association does not dispute the fact that the Tilapia is an excellent and cheap protein source. What we are advocating is the responsible farming of these non-indigenous species.

As your guest columnist, Mr Anthony Geoffrey pointed out in the Sunday Star, fish farming should be confined to totally enclosed waters. The cages used for fish farming can and is usually damaged, thus releasing the alien species to reproduce and colonise our waters.

In their competition for food and continual survival of its species, the Tilapia would prey on the local species. Even if the tilapia of the genus Oreochromis is not aggressive as claimed by Mr Ng, the following scenario is what happens in Nature.

The Tilapia attacks and devour fish fries of the local species; decimating their population. What would be left are the adult or juvenile local species which would eventually die.
Where is the next generation of these species if they have already fallen prey to the non-indegenous species in their infant stage?

In the meantime, the Tilapia is producing generations upon generations of its own kind. Being Cichlids, they reproduce at tremendous speed and quantity with low mortality rate.

What would be left is the Tilapia at the top of the food chain. Final result; extinction of the local species!

As Mr Anthony Geoffrey stated in his column;”The only thing to do now is to attempt to minimize their effect on indigenous species by introducing more restrictive breeding in continous waterways and by boosting the numbers of local species through breeding and introduction programmes.”

Our indigenous fish species are already under threat from pollution, over fishing, development, etc. Do we need to put more pressure on their existence?
Would we eventually have to introduce a local species to our children through pictures in reference books?

WE have the power to take charge of the future to ensure the continual existence of our biological assets. Let not our indigenous species fall into the same category of the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger or Dodo bird.

Let us learn from those mistakes and not repeat them while we still have a chance.

quote:

As I have mentioned earlier, PeMM does not dispute the fact that the Tilapia is a good source of cheap nutrition. We see both the nutritional and economical point of view.
And we accept the fact that the Tilapia fish has been in Malaysia for the past half a century. Irradication of this species is impossible and not viable.

What we are asking for is that the aquaculture of such alien species be done responsibly and ethically.

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RainbowRunner

Tightlines and screaming reels

xx_6 · April 4, 2006, 12:31am

As I see it, there are the “Fisho conservationists” on one side and the “scientists”, the likes of Ng Chee Kiat and the blokes from the Fisheries Dept.on the other. One says its dangerous and care should be taken, while the other side says its an economic imperative that we cultivate Tilapia as a food fish and that it probably will not damage the ecosystem. On the sidelines are the businessmen who cannot see beyond the $$$ sign.

It would serve the cause better if someone can produce scientific evidence as to the dangers or otherwise of unrestricted introduction of the Tilapia into our waters. Tilapia is not a new introduction like the Peecock Bass. I’m sure there are already tons of studies done by scientists in our universities, the Fisheries Dept., the scientists in The Malaysian Fisheries Society, not mentioning those in the various SEAsian countries where Tilapia is an important source of cheap protein.

We can argue “till the lembus come home” but unless its scientifically proven, from a conservation point of view, that its a “clear and present danger” situation, nothing will be done so long as there is $$$ to be made.

Personally, I only wish a few more good men in positions of influence would have the gumption and guts to speak out. So far, only Assoc.Prof.Dr.Mohd Salleh from UPM has stood up to say something about the danger. Even then the Dept. of Fisheries replied saying that “a permanent change in the ecosystem is unlikely” as “the Tilapia cannot breed in deep water…etc”…So unless these claims can be refuted, who do you think the man in the street and their representatives in Parliament will believe? Can someone google up something?

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xx_525 · April 5, 2006, 9:59am

as i see it , we against the invention and permanent change in the ecosystem by alien species will have a tough time having our voice heard, as stated by our PM in the local TV interview recently, wanted to follow holland as a power house in food producing.
As presented in the budget 2006 and the recently RM9. More allocation for food industries.meaning bigger subsidies ,larger skilland more advance techology in plantation, breeder and converter. So every thing will bore down to the $$$.
As i forcast more and more of our dam or nature will use to breed
those alien spacies for protain. Anywhere the above just my personal
point of view. true or not time will tell!!!

game of waiting -

COLOSSOMA TEAM

xx_6 · April 5, 2006, 12:50pm

I gather the World Fish Centres around the world have much information on Tilapia…its breeding, BMPs…etc.. Any comments from up north?

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JerryC · April 6, 2006, 6:29pm

Guys,

Balistic as it seems on the idea of farming in Kenyir Lake/Dam and all the claims from both parties is lop-sided. Why? firstly we don’t have biologist, fish expert or Prof’s on our side and we merely shooting based on our own experiences seing Tilapia breeding like rabbits. They claim Tilapia don’t breed in deep waters!!! Are they out of their mind? Every fish will know to stay clear of open water where predators would spot them easily. And may I know where does an egg layer like Tilapia breed? Their eggs have to be layed in sandy bottom where they can fan and oxyginate their eggs like any other cichlids. Once hatched the father Tilapia will protect and up keep the fries till a certain time where the fries can haunt they own food. This means they are competing with our native fishes for food. So who is this brilliant chap that makes up the idea of saying Tilapia won’t breed in Kenyir?

Now the truth is … who is going to take the punch when mother nature decided to play nasty. Example… heavy rains (Monsoon) at the hills will wash down debris, trees, logs etc where it might caught up and rip off the Tilapia Farm nets that leads to accidental releasing of Tilapia into Kenyir Lake/Dam. Will the business owner take the blame or they will blame it on mother nature and claim that it is not their fault. Why Remis Rakit when busted when his last Rakit got swipe off and new onwer sees difficulty in maintaining the current rakit?

There is much better protein fish in our water that can easily over hype Tilapia. Tembakang, Lias, Tapah, Haruans, baung, keli etc is great eating.

Fisheries might have gone bonkers in this deal and I have my fair share of my limited knowledge for their lack of knowledge on our ingenious species. Put the blame on them? have you ever heard the term “Tai Chi”?

xx_22 · April 6, 2006, 6:47pm

Me think those RMRMRM had made their eyes and brain clogged!

Pushing the angling limits!

Ikan kita adalah warisan yang tak ternilai. Puliharalah ia demi generasi akan datang.

Member of Kangkang? Kangkung? Kongkang? LONGKANG Gang!!! Yehaaa!!! [:D]

xx_1217 · April 6, 2006, 7:02pm

Yes,

Actually i was quite amuse when reading about it esspecially the sentence ‘tilapia don’t breed in deep waters’. One of the funniest joke that i’ll ever heard in my life… wat makes you think that a lake only have deep part and do not consist of shallow area?

And yea most of my schoolmate prefer haruan and keli than tilapia. So i think cultivate of keli and haruan is a very noble idea. And for the keli side, try go for natives like keli limbat keli kayu and keli bungah is even better! Since it’s reputated tat our very own locals can grow as large also(but most of the time ppl will prefer small keli)!

Baung is another greatest, there are paypond that release baung. And even in small scale, you can see the pond crowded the next day, just for the sake of baung!

Just to share my thought! Hopefully no protest!

Earth can satisfy our need, but can’t satisfy our greed…

xx_37 · April 7, 2006, 12:05am

jerry,

what can us poor and lowly educated anglers got to say about this tilapia thing when we have the head honchos like ng chee kiat supporting the idea. if you had read his opinion on the matter, all his efforts were focussed to defending the proposal based on economic reasoning.

yes there is a necessity to produce food but does it have to be done in a high risk area such as kenyir, chini, bera or temmenggor. shouldn’t such cultivation be done within a more controlled enviroment such as a man-made pond. yes it could be done in fact it would be better but it does cost more, and here surface the real reasons to the proposal.

profit is a certainty but enviromental damage is a probabilty. if and when the damage actually happens, all these “scientists” would have all the reasons to cover their ass in particular the one that reads ‘act of god’.

xx_6 · April 7, 2006, 12:28am

guys…politics and what have you aside, just google up “tilapia in israel” and read up on the farming of tilapia. For those who still are not aware, Israel is very far advanced in the research and farming of tilapia…in ponds or tanks…note oso that they do not have the likes of kenyir lake…

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xx_1032 · April 7, 2006, 9:21am

I understand that they did try tilapia farming in Kenyir before, it was a flop hehehehehehe.. as usual… bec the initial nets used in Kenyir were not strong enougjh and it got broken .. by the Tomans … why.. hehehehehe free food hahahahahahahaha

There are already existing tilapia farms in Kenyir and also Temenggor (if Iam not mistaken) but all on a small scale…

But farming on a large scale will be different i guess… also if the tilapia is bred in cages/ nets.. wouldnt that technically be shallow water and no longer considered deep water… wouldnt they breed?

Food for thought…

No pain no gain, dont try dont know… muahahahahaha

xx_5 · April 7, 2006, 10:47pm

quote:

Monday March 13, 2006
Tilapia ideal as food source

I REFER to the letters,“Tilapia will upset eco-system of lake”, “Preserve Tasik Kenyir’s indigenous fish” and “Alien species will damage environment” The Star, March 9) raising concerns about the farming of tilapia in Kenyir Lake.

This followed the news about the release of 20,000 tilapia fry and the plans to start fish farming there. I would like to highlight several facts about the farming of tilapia in Malaysia and other parts of the world, in response to comments made in the letters.

Tilapia has been in Malaysia since the WW2, having been brought into the country from Indonesia by the Japanese.

It has become very much a Malaysian fish. However, the fish used for commercial farming is selected for its fast growth and good size.

Tilapia of the genus Oreochromis in Malaysia is not as aggressive as other cichlids from the Central and South Americas, such as the flowerhorn and the peacock bass.

It has been identified as one of the species which can alleviate the fish protein supply for human consumption all over the world and has been endorsed by international agencies.

Because of its hardy nature and low cost of production, it is ideal for aquaculture. Today, the production of tilapia (cultured) is almost 2 million metric tons.

Malaysia is expected to produce 600,000 metric tons from aquaculture to meet the local fish protein needs by 2010 because of the expected shortfall from captured fisheries.

Tilapia will form a main part of about 230,000 metric tons expected from freshwater systems.

Its relatively short production cycle means it can reach market size of 500gm within six months from stocking, plus it breeds readily. It has excellent meat bone ratio and the meat is white, making it a healthy food to consume.

There are not many alternatives for farming in freshwaters today from locally available species.

Tilapia may not be endemic to Malaysia but it can be an important source of food (fish protein) which will be needed if we are expected to feed our increasing population without becoming overly dependent on imports.

NG CHEE KIAT,

President,

Malaysian Fisheries Society,

Kuala Lumpur. 

quote:
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Now we have the full story. Thank you Dr.

RainbowRunner

Tightlines and screaming reels

xx_35 · April 8, 2006, 1:15am

My brother-in-law cultures red tilapia in concrete ponds 6 ft deep and he did not have to buy any frys since his first batch as they are breeding nicely right in the ponds. He has been doing this for the past 8 years and they say tilapias can’t breed in cages/ Ha! The red tilapia do collect the eggs and nurse the hatchlings in their mouths, even in a pond with a few thousand tilapias around.

Thanks, Dr. K for the facts.

Practice Catch & Release so our Children can FISH.

JerryC · April 8, 2006, 1:34am

DR K,
Interesting findings! Precisely what I have in my mind but you perfected the explaination which I couldn’t do it so well.

Now back to NG’s response (in one of the press release/media release)

I find his response (can’t really define it as reply, though!) like a true politician and as a guardian of his own fruits. Blah blah blah, economic acceptance of tilapia world wide and now in m’sia can export Tilapia meat as a subsitute for the real COD or Haddock for the UK Fish and Chip meals etc etc.

Dude you are missing the point and please get your bearings in order.!!! We are not saying that Tilapia is not a good protein source for the people of Malaysia. Did we mentioned that? I know I didn’t. We are merely saying and trying to elaborate the farming method for Tilapia to be enclosed. Alienated breeding in Kenyir is uncall for and to make matter worst cross migration of disease from Tilapia to the fish stock in Kenyir could be avoided.

If Ng’s future response again is forked to economic and $$$$$, the he has missed the point again and perhaps intentional dodging.

Tilapia ideal as food source

There are not many alternatives for farming in freshwaters today from locally available species.

Not many alternative can be elaborated as “So there is alternatives” but you choose your own fruits.

Tilapia may not be endemic to Malaysia but it can be an important source of food (fish protein) which will be needed if we are expected to feed our increasing population without becoming overly dependent on imports.

The term “May not be endemic” can be elaborated as “uncertain”, “cloudy mind”, “Stoop up mind” or in layman term “I don’t know”. If you are unsure don’t just try to response for the sake of a responding. It won’t look good on you.

As economically as it sounds to you, what’s is the ratio of people buying and include Tilapia in their daily, weekely, monthly marketing list?

NG CHEE KIAT,

President,

Malaysian Fisheries Society,

Kuala Lumpur. [/i]

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xx_6 · April 8, 2006, 11:39am

quote:
Originally posted by Ubob
My brother-in-law cultures red tilapia in concrete ponds 6 ft deep and he did not have to buy any frys since his first batch as they are breeding nicely right in the ponds. He has been doing this for the past 8 years and they say tilapias can't breed in cages/ Ha! The red tilapia do collect the eggs and nurse the hatchlings in their mouths, even in a pond with a few thousand tilapias around.
Thanks, Dr. K for the facts.

Practice Catch & Release so our Children can FISH.

Thats my point uBob,

If one reads what the Israelis, Taiwanese and Chinese are doing in aquaculture of fish and prawns, you do not need Lake Kenyirs, period[:(!]. The use or ponds, either earthen or plastic lined or even concrete tanks have been proven successful in many countries.

In Malaysia, sadly, its a matter of maximizing the $$$ on one hand, and the poor attitude or ignorance of the authorities on the other…where got long term thinking wan…still third world mentality lah..Its like large scale shifting agriculture…slash and burn, plant and harvest…and shift again when the land is barren[xx(].

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xx_1217 · April 8, 2006, 4:22pm