Agency monitoring rare phenomenon involving anchovies in Pangkor Island

 

The Perak Fisheries Department is monitoring the strange phenomenon involving thousands of anchovies leaping out of the waters onto Pasir Bogak beach, which is happening from time to time.

Its director Noraishah Hashim said yesterday the incident occurred at 7.30pm last Saturday, following an incident last Friday where a small quantity of silver-type round herring fries was also found stranded on the beach.

Anchovies on the island’s shores

She said many residents and visitors took the opportunity to collect the anchovies between 11am and 1pm yesterday, adding that investigations found that the rare incident only happened at Pasir Bogak beach.

“Fisherfolk in the area said large fish especially the alu-alu fish (yellowtail barracuda) could be hunting the anchovies, forcing them to jump onto the beach,” she said adding that the bright lights in the area might also lure the anchovies to the beach.

She said fisherfolk and vessel owners informed the department that their anchovy catch has increased several days before the phenomenon occurred.

Noraishah said the department is of the opinion that the rezoning of fishing areas on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia in 2016, which created a conservation zone for fish breeding, has shown success by increasing the number of anchovy in the area.

- Bernama