AUG 29 — Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) refers to the proposed RM120 million sturgeon project coming up in Pahang under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) to benefit Felda settlers and their families.

Aquaculturists and entrepreneurs are looking forward to sturgeon aquaculture in order to take advantage of the growing interest in and market for farmed sturgeon caviar.

Even before signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Felda Investment Corporation and MMC Co Ltd of South Korea and before the project was first mooted, it would be interesting to note if any reference has been made to the legislation under the Fisheries Act pertaining to import of prohibited fish species into Malaysia.

A list of prohibited fish species for import in Malaysia provided by the Fisheries Department of Malaysia includes the genus Acipenser, the common name for which is sturgeon. As such the establishment of a sturgeon farming project should be aborted by all means.

Settlers and public are unaware that all 27 species of sturgeon and paddlefish (close relative of the sturgeon) are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Many are unaware that sturgeons are carnivores and this situation calls for serious scrutiny of the nature of sturgeon aquaculture practices and their environmental impact.

There are serious ecological concerns associated with sturgeon aquaculture. One of which is its fairly high use of marine resources in the form of feed. Sturgeons thrive well on fishmeal and fish oil, leading to already overtaxed pelagic fisheries resources.

Then there is the risk of escaped fish to the environment. This can take the form of competition for food, predation, introduction of new diseases, alteration of ecosystem structure and function and genetic impacts through interbreeding or hybridisation. So is the transmission or re-transmission of diseases from farmed to wild organisms. The greatest risk for contamination of wild fish by farmed animals is associated with open culture systems such as net pens.

The other concern is the risk of pollution and habitat effects. Aquaculture pollution caused by a combination of nutrients, chemicals, excess feed and excretion that occur as a result of the rearing process and those that are open to waterways have the greatest potential for polluting the environment. The aquaculture of sturgeon is a source of wastes where release into the environment can be the potential cause of ecological damage. 

The withdrawal of voluminous amount of groundwater for the sturgeon farms could lead to an increase in the formation of sinkholes in the area because of diminished water supply.

Lastly, the effectiveness in the management regime of sturgeon culture suggests federal and state agencies involvement in the permitting and monitoring, and in terms of how these laws and regulations are applied in on-the ground regulatory and management practice.

Since the Fisheries Act has listed sturgeons as a prohibited species, all relevant government agencies and stakeholders should forgo the proposed sturgeon farming project in Malaysia.  

* S.M. Mohd Idris is president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malay Mail Online