Jakarta Launches War to Eradicate Plecostomus Fish Simultaneously in 5 Cities

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has officially launched a simultaneous capture operation for plecostomus fish across five administrative city areas. This is being carried out to suppress the population of the invasive species that has dominated the capital’s freshwater waters. “Today we are in North Jakarta. The implementation is simultaneous in five cities in Jakarta: North, South, East, West, and Central Jakarta to catch plecostomus fish,” said DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung at the Kelapa Gading Housing Estate, North Jakarta, on Friday (17/4). Direct observations by CNNIndonesia.com on Jalan Janur Elok VI Blok QD9, RT 9/RW 6, Kelapa Gading Barat, North Jakarta, showed that the catch results were significantly higher than the initial predictions of field officers. Pramono revealed that the enthusiasm and density of the population at that point yielded hundreds of kilograms of invasive fish in a short time. “When the capture was carried out earlier, we initially estimated perhaps only around 150 kilograms, and from what I saw at the end, I’m sure it’s over 200 kilograms,” said Pramono. “Because what was collected at the beginning was already more than 60 kilograms,” he added. Meanwhile, the Mayor of North Jakarta, Hendra Hidayat, stated that all the catches will certainly not be used for consumption or as food ingredients. As a final handling step, the fish will be immediately destroyed by being buried in prepared locations. “Specifically in RW 06, we have prepared a location; there is an RW post and also a yard where we will bury it there, plant it there. For other places, it will be adjusted,” said Hendra. Pramono said this step was taken because the invasive fish population has dominated more than 60% of Jakarta’s waters and threatens the survival of local endemic fish. “This fish is very invasive, and it also makes other fish in that place, especially local endemics, almost all of which cannot survive,” said Pramono. Pramono emphasised that this action is not just ceremonial, but a serious effort to break the chain of dominance of the species that damages river walls. “Why the DKI Jakarta Government is carrying out this movement is because we want the fish that has become too dominant and is damaging the aquatic ecosystem in Jakarta,” said Pramono. The decision for this large-scale cleanup is based on laboratory findings showing that plecostomus fish in Jakarta’s waters contain dangerous heavy metals. Pramono explained that the substances in the fish’s body have exceeded safe thresholds, making their presence in the environment very risky to humans. “The most dangerous thing is that yesterday in the meeting, I was reported by the head of KKP that the average residue level in this fish is already 0.3, and that is very dangerous,” said Pramono. To ensure the invasive fish population continues to decrease consistently, the DKI Provincial Government plans to form a special task force that will work routinely in the field. “Specifically, we will assign PPLH to handle that. PPLH specifically to reduce the dominance of plecostomus fish,” said Pramono. “There will be a specific assignment for PJLP to handle this plecostomus fish,” he added. On the same day, quoted from Antara, the East Jakarta City Government stated that it had captured 763 kilograms (kg) of plecostomus fish in the simultaneous operation held in 10 sub-districts. “Up to today, the simultaneous plecostomus fish capture operation in 10 sub-districts, at 08:45 WIB, recap from 10 locations totals 763 kilograms or 7.63 quintals,” said East Jakarta Mayor Munjirin during the simultaneous plecostomus fish capture operation at Dermaga Eco Eduwisata Ciliwung, Cililitan, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Friday morning. This amount is a preliminary recapitulation from Thursday (16/4) afternoon until Friday at 08:45 WIB, reflecting the massive population of the invasive fish in the East Jakarta waterway areas. From the total, one of the largest contributions came from the Dermaga Eco Eduwisata Ciliwung area in Cililitan, Kramat Jati Sub-district. At that location, officers lifted around 200 kg of plecostomus fish since the activity began on Thursday (16/4) afternoon. The operation involved at least 150 combined personnel at one point, consisting of firefighters, the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), wards, and sub-districts. In addition, community participation also accelerated the capture process in the field. Meanwhile, the South Jakarta City Government (Jaksel) targets five tons of plecostomus fish to be captured in the population control activity in the Setu Babakan area, Jagakarsa. “Alhamdulillah, this morning we are in Setu Babakan. In just over one hour, we have already obtained around 300 kilograms of plecostomus fish. Our target today is five tons,” said South Jakarta Mayor Muhammad Anwar during the plecostomus fish capture activity at Setu Babakan, Jakarta, on Friday morning, quoted from Antara. He mentioned that similar activities are not only carried out in Setu Babakan but also at several other points in South Jakarta. However, the current main focus is in that area because the population is the highest. “All areas are doing it, but the largest is here. Study results show that there are many plecostomus fish in Setu Babakan, and it’s proven; in one hour, we already got 300 kilograms,” explained Anwar. The previous plecostomus fish capture operation was carried out in Kali Cideng, right in front of Plaza Indonesia, Menteng, Central Jakarta. The activity involved 100 combined personnel from the DKI Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Service (KPKP) to Central Jakarta Gulkarmat. In that operation, officers captured 41 large-sized plecostomus fish that were deemed to disrupt the river ecosystem. The Head of the DKI Jakarta KPKP Service, Hasudungan A Sidabalok, said the capture…