CURRENT SUCCESS IN THE BREEDING OF INDIGENOUS FRESHWATER FISH IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA FOR FUTURE AQUACULTURE AND STOCK ENHANCEMENT

The production of freshwater aquaculture species in Malaysia was dominated by the introduced species such as Tilapia, the catfishes (Clariid and Pangasiid) as well as exotic carps. Historically, the only indigenous species that was successfully bred in captivity was the Sultan Fish, Jelawat, Leptobarbus hoevenii tackling the high demand in the 1980s. Following this success much more breeding techniques were achieved in the 1990s for other local species including the walking catfish (Clarias macrocephalus), river catfish (Hemibagrus nemurus), Jullien's Golden Carp (Probarbus jullienni), Tengalan (Puntioplites bulu), Puyu (Anabas testudineus), Haruan (Channa striata).

It has been some time since the last documentation of the captive breeding techniques of the indigenous species by the Department of Fisheries. Following popular demand from the niche market, more species were studied and successfully bred in captivity in the recent years including Loma (Thynnichthys thynnoides), Kerai Kunyit (Hypsibarbus wetmorei), Lampam sungai (Barbonymus schwanefeldii), Terbul (Osteochilus hasselti), Kelah (Tor tambroides) and Patin Buah (Pangasius nasutus).