The red devil fish (Amphilophus labiatus) was initially thought to be\nan ornamental fish by residents of Abang Batudinding Village, Songan\nVillage, and other villages along the shores of Lake Batur, Bangli,\nBali. Later, residents finally realised that the freshwater fish is a\npest.<\/p>\n
Even so, the red devil fish is not always detrimental. I Wayan\nEskayasa is one of 30 residents of Banjar Dukuh, Batudinding Village,\nTrunyan Village, and other villages around Lake Batur, who actually earn\nmoney from the pest fish.<\/p>\n
About three days ago, Eskayasa received an order for red fish from\nthe town of Muncar, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java. The order of 1 tonne\n700 kilograms (kg) of red devil fish was collected and sold by 30 other\nresidents to Banyuwangi.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was the one who made the video on social media. About three days\nago during the day. It was transported using a truck, we got 1 tonne 700\nkg,\u201d said Eskayasa when met by detikBali at his home on Sunday\n(6\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Eskayasa said he serves as the commander. Besides also fulfilling\norders for red devil fish, he also helps weigh and calculate the price\nof the red devil fish.<\/p>\n
The price of the pest fish from Central America is set at Rp 2,500\nper kg. With a catch of 1 tonne 700 kg, Rp 4.2 million was obtained and\ndistributed to residents who caught the red fish.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo from the lake shore, it is transported to Trunyan Main Road.\nThen, there, it is loaded into an ice truck. Already dead and frozen.\nThen, it is taken to Penelokan Main Road,\u201d said Eskayasa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere, the money is transferred from the boss in Kedonganan Village,\nBadung Regency,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Eskayasa said the red devil fish is sent from Penelokan Main Road\ndirectly to Banyuwangi, already frozen. He admitted he does not accept\norders for red devil fish in a live state.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it is still alive, it is not allowed, because cultivating red\nfish is prohibited,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Eskayasa admitted he receives many orders from outside Bali. Some\norders for red devil fish come from Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Lombok.<\/p>\n
However, he is still reluctant to serve orders for red devil fish\noutside Bali other than Banyuwangi. Meanwhile, in Bali, many orders come\nfrom Serangan Island, Denpasar, and Negara, Jembrana Regency.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf orders go outside Bali other than to Banyuwangi, it is a bit\ntroublesome. So, I only accept orders for Banyuwangi for now,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Having dealt with red devil fish for some time, Eskayasa admitted he\nonce commanded a shipment of 6 tonnes. Meanwhile, he himself has only\nbeen able to fulfil orders of 300 kg.<\/p>\n
At the destination, the fish is used for various purposes. In\nSerangan, the red devil fish meat is used as feed for lobsters and\ngroupers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Negara, it is used to make fish meal. It can also be eaten.\nUsually made into satay lilit or fried. It is not dangerous, in fact its\nprotein is high. There has been research from Undiksha, Udayana\nUniversity, and Warmadewa University,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wayan Ruspa, a resident of Banjar Dinas Dukuh, Abang Batudinding\nVillage, said red devil fish meat is only consumed at certain times.\nWhen processed into satay lilit, red devil fish is only served during\nHindu religious holidays.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsually made into satay lilit during holidays, processed into\nmeatballs, or fried, it is delicious. If grilled, it tastes bland,\u201d said\nRuspa.<\/p>\n
Ruspa explained that the red devil fish was originally released by\nsomeone around 2019. At first, residents thought it was an ornamental\nfish.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt turned out to be a predatory fish. Its population has become too\nlarge. It usually gathers at the cages when residents are about to feed\ntheir tilapia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Head of the Fisheries Division of the Bangli Livestock and Food\nSecurity Agency, I Wayan Agus Wirawan, said the red devil fish\npopulation is recorded at 29,932 kg. The record was obtained from\nresidents\u2019 catches over 7 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe population of red devil fish, or wild predatory fish, is\ndifficult to count. The red devil catch by fishers according to the\nlatest record is 29,932 kg,\u201d said Agus.<\/p>\n
Agus said the utilisation of the devil fish is still limited and its\ncultivation is still prohibited. Because it is detrimental, efforts to\neliminate the fish have been carried out by the Bangli Regency\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\u201cHandling has been carried out through eradication. Red devil fish\ncatching facilitated by the Bali Marine and Fisheries Agency, the Bangli\nPKP Agency, and red devil fish catching in Terunyan Village to\nAbangsongan Village,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/considered-a-pest-red-devil-fish-in-lake-batur-still-holds-value-1788742248", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }