Overfed fish turn their tails on natural algae

 

Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng said the local community introduced new species, namely patin and tilapia, into the canal.

GEORGETOWN: The famous Prangin Canal next to Sia Boey became an instant tourist attraction after photos of the canal teeming with clear water and koi fish went viral last year.

Fast forward today, the public park surrounding the market and canal remains a picturesque park, just without its usual hubbub due to the movement control order.

However, the beautiful koi fish are under threat, no thanks to those who fed them.

According to the canal maintenance contractor Richard Yee appointed by the state government, the fishes were meant to feed on the algae growing on the walls of the canal.

Unfortunately, due to the public’s patronage, the overfed koi have more than lost their interest in their initial food source.

This has left the algae overgrown, which in excess could deplete oxygen levels in the water, thus endangering aquatic life in the canal.

Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng said it cost the Penang government RM18,500 to clean the canal of the overgrown algae.

He said the fish from the canal had to be “quarantined” elsewhere while restoration efforts were carried out.

Aside from contributing to the rapid growth of the koi fish colony, Teh said that the public had inadvertently upset the ecosystem in other ways too.

“The local community introduced new species, namely patin and tilapia, into the canal as well,” he said.

Teh added that the resultant sludge, consisting of fish excretion and algae bloom, needed manual effort to clear.

”Usually, we need to clean the canal once every two to three years. If this situation persists, we’ll have to clean it every other year.”

Teh said that placards will be erected to warn the public against feeding the fish or introducing new species into the canal. - FMT