41 Large Plecostomus Fish Captured in Canal in Front of Plaza Indonesia

The Head of the DKI Jakarta Agriculture, Food Security, and Fisheries Office (Dinas KPKP), Hasudungan A Sidabalok, stated that the capture was carried out to eradicate invasive fish species. Similar actions have previously been taken in the Ciliwung River. “Previously, we have also resolved a similar issue in the Ciliwung River,” Hasudungan said in a statement on Friday (10/4/2026). “As a result, 41 large plecostomus fish were successfully captured,” he continued. He explained that the dozens of fish captured from the Cideng Canal were taken to the Centre for Promotion and Certification of Fishery Products (PPSHP) of the DKI Jakarta Dinas KPKP to be destroyed by burial, due to the fish’s high resilience: they can survive for a long time even without water. “We hope that following the capture of the plecostomus fish, the Cideng Canal will be healthier because the invasive fish that disrupt the ecosystem and are difficult to control have been removed,” he added. Meanwhile, the Central Jakarta Mayor Arifin stated that the capture and destruction of these fish aims to educate residents not to consume fish that contain bacteria from waste dumped into the waterways. “Waste remnants dumped into the Cideng Canal become food for the plecostomus fish, so if residents consume this fish, it is feared to impact their health. We will carry out similar captures in canals or rivers where they proliferate extensively,” he emphasised.