PETALING JAYA: Several iconic fish species are now slipping quietly into rarity, their disappearance reflecting a deeper crisis unfolding beneath the country’s waters, says the Fisheries Department. He said the decline has reached a worrying level, with some species now rarely sighted in local waters. Adnan noted that broader fish stocks, particularly demersal species such as groupers (ikan kerapu) and snappers (ikan merah), have also suffered sharp reductions over the decades. “Non-selective fishing gear, particularly bottom trawling, not only captures target species, but also juvenile fish, disrupting the natural breeding cycle and accelerating stock depletion,” he said. “Species like humphead wrasse and wedgefish have slow growth and low reproduction rates.

Source: The Star March 23, 2026 23:15 UTC