DKI Food Security Agency: Sailfin Catfish Cannot Yet Be Utilised Due to High Heavy Metal Residues

The Jakarta Provincial Government successfully captured 68,880 sailfin catfish weighing around 6.98 tonnes in a single day. Can these tens of thousands of fish be utilised?

The Head of the Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Agency (KPKP) DKI Jakarta, Hasudungan A. Sidabalok, explained that there is no official study confirming that sailfin catfish are safe for consumption. He noted that the heavy metal content in the sailfin catfish is excessive.

“It cannot be utilised yet, until there is an official study stating that the fish is safe for consumption or as animal feed. Because the heavy metal residues exceed the threshold,” Hasudungan said when contacted on Saturday (18/4/2026).

As such, the sailfin catfish are being destroyed for the time being. The thousands of fish are buried immediately after being killed.

“They are killed first, then buried,” he said.

Previously, the capture of sailfin catfish was carried out simultaneously in five regions of DKI Jakarta. A total of 68,800 sailfin catfish weighing 6.9 tonnes were captured for destruction.

“Based on the data collected, the total number of sailfin catfish captured reached 68,880 individuals weighing around 6.98 tonnes,” said the Head of the Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Agency (KPKP) DKI Jakarta, Hasudungan A. Sidabalok, when asked for confirmation on Friday (17/4).

He stated that the region with the largest catch was South Jakarta (Jaksel), namely 63,600 individuals weighing 5.3 tonnes. The capture was carried out in the Pintu Air Outlet Setu Babakan area, Srengseng Sawah Ward, Jagakarsa Subdistrict.

Meanwhile, in East Jakarta (Jaktim), 4,128 fish weighing 825.5 kg were captured at 10 subdistrict points. In Central Jakarta (Jakpus), officers captured 536 individuals weighing 565 kg at seven subdistrict points.

For North Jakarta (Jakut), 545 fish weighing 271 kg were secured from the connecting channel of RW 06, Kelapa Gading Barat Ward, Kelapa Gading Subdistrict.

“Whereas in West Jakarta, 71 fish weighing 17 kg were captured in Kali Anak TSI, Duri Kosambi Ward, Cengkareng Subdistrict,” he revealed.