Sailfin Catfish Eradicated, DKI DPRD Commission D Hints at Use by Food Vendors
The capture of sailfin catfish in Jakarta was carried out simultaneously last Friday, with a total of 6.9 tons successfully caught. Chair of Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Ida Mahmudah, is convinced that the eradication of sailfin catfish is due to DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung becoming aware that the fish is often used as food by vendors.
“I am confident that the governor has started to realise that many vendors—whatever kind of vendors, I don’t need to specify—are using sailfin catfish,” said Ida when contacted on Saturday (18/4/2026).
Ida stated that sailfin catfish is still not safe for consumption. She said the fish can affect the populations of other fish in the canals.
“Sailfin catfish does have nutritional value, but health experts do not recommend consuming it because it can cause poisoning, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, and so on, which is why it is not advised,” she said.
“Indeed, sailfin catfish grows very quickly; it should be beneficial if placed in fish ponds to clean up waste, but since it is in public canals, the concern is its consumption by our residents,” she added.
Furthermore, Ida is confident that the DKI Provincial Government can maximise these efforts for a more advanced environment.
“With this cleanup, I am confident that the regional government has plans on how to dispose of the sailfin catfish so that it is not consumed by the public,” she said.
Previously, the capture of sailfin catfish was carried out simultaneously in five areas of DKI Jakarta. A total of 68,800 sailfin catfish weighing 6.9 tons were caught to be destroyed.
“Based on the data collected, the total number of sailfin catfish caught reached 68,880 individuals with a weight of around 6.98 tons,” said Head of the DKI Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Office (KPKP), Hasudungan A Sidabalok, when asked for confirmation on Friday (17/4).
He said the area with the largest catch was South Jakarta (Jaksel), namely 63,600 individuals weighing 5.3 tons. 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 recorded caught at 10 subdistrict points. In Central Jakarta (Jakpus), officers caught 536 individuals weighing 565 kg at seven subdistrict points.
For the North Jakarta (Jakut) area, 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 caught in Kali Anak TSI, Duri Kosambi Ward, Cengkareng Subdistrict,” he revealed.