Dilemma in Eradicating Janitor Fish: Environment Saved, Method Questioned

JAKARTA - Behind the large-scale operation to capture janitor fish in Jakarta’s rivers lies an issue that is not as simple as cleaning the waterways. Efforts to save the ecosystem have sparked a new debate on how to eradicate invasive species without violating humanitarian values towards living beings. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government acted swiftly. In a single simultaneous operation across five areas, tens of thousands of janitor fish were lifted from the waters, with a total weight of nearly 7 tonnes. DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the dominance of janitor fish in the capital’s waters has reached over 60 percent, and according to data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, it could be more than 70 percent. In such conditions, intervention is considered no longer delayable. “If not, Jakarta’s water ecosystem will certainly be damaged,” said Pramono when met in the Kebayoran area, Central Jakarta, on Sunday (19/4/2026). However, amid these firm steps, criticism emerged from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) regarding the extermination method. “Regarding the suggestions and criticism from MUI, I will later ask the experts to adjust the procedures,” he said. For MUI, the issue is not with the control policy, but with the method. Secretary of the MUI Fatwa Commission, KH Miftahul Huda, emphasised that killing animals is permitted if there is public benefit, but it must be done in a good manner. He explained that burial while alive could prolong death and cause suffering. Nevertheless, MUI still views the janitor fish control policy as a step aligned with environmental protection.