Suckerfish Dominate Jakarta's Rivers, Kenneth of DKI DPRD Pushes for Integrated Handling
The growing population of suckerfish in several streams in Jakarta has become a serious concern for various groups. One of them is DKI Jakarta DPRD member Hardiyanto Kenneth, who emphasised that this phenomenon is not just an ordinary issue, but a strong signal of increasingly worrying water ecosystem damage.
According to the man commonly known as Bang Kent, the suckerfish or Hypostomus plecostomus is an invasive species that can thrive rapidly in polluted water environments. This condition reflects that the water quality in Jakarta’s rivers is still far from good.
“Many people consider suckerfish as cleaning heroes because they eat algae and organic waste. In reality, however, the opposite is true. Their presence is a strong indicator that our waters are unhealthy,” said Kent in his statement on Sunday (19/4/2026).
The member of Commission C of the DKI Jakarta DPRD explained that the suckerfish’s ability to survive in extreme conditions, such as low oxygen and high pollution levels, allows this species to dominate the waters. Even, its population explosion is a sign that more sensitive local fish are starting to be displaced.
Furthermore, Kent warned that the impact of the suckerfish’s presence should not be taken lightly. Besides disrupting ecosystem balance, this fish can also threaten the survival of local fish like wader and gabus, as it often eats their eggs.
“This fish also digs holes in riverbanks for breeding. This has the potential to trigger erosion and landslides on river edges, which in turn could worsen flood risks in Jakarta,” he explained.
Not only from an environmental perspective, said Kent, threats also arise from health aspects. Suckerfish are known as bioaccumulators of heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium. This means the fish absorb harmful substances from polluted water, posing a high risk if consumed by humans.
“This is important for the public to know. Suckerfish should not be utilised without studies, as it could have adverse health impacts,” stressed the Chairman of IKAL (Association of Lemhannas RI Alumni Families) PPRA Class LXII.
Kent urged the Provincial Government to take concrete and integrated steps in addressing this issue. Handling should not be limited to mass capture of suckerfish, but must be accompanied by comprehensive efforts to improve water quality.
These steps include controlling domestic and industrial waste, enhancing sanitation systems, and educating the public not to dispose of rubbish in rivers.
In addition, Kent also opened the possibility of innovative and collaborative approaches, such as utilising suckerfish into economically valuable products, provided that it undergoes strict scientific studies on health and sustainability aspects.
“We need solutions that are not only reactive, but also provide added value for the community, without neglecting safety and health aspects,” he said.
He emphasised that river issues are a shared responsibility. If Jakarta wants to become a competitive global city, environmental management, especially rivers, must be a top priority.
“I will consistently continue to monitor policies and budgets that support river ecosystem recovery. This is not just about the environment, but also for the future of Jakarta City and its residents,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Head of the DKI Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Office (KPKP), Dr. drh. Hasudungan A. Sidabalok, M.Si, said that mass capture operations of suckerfish are a short-term strategy currently being intensified. This effort aims to suppress the suckerfish population while preventing wider spread in Jakarta’s waters.
“As an initial handling step, we are conducting mass capture operations. The catch results are handled by burying them dead to prevent further environmental impacts,” said Hasudungan.
Not only that, a research-based approach is also starting to be implemented. As much as 1,000 kilograms of suckerfish caught from the Setu Babakan area are being used as research material by the Ornamental Fish Cultivation Research Centre of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
He said that the research focuses on developing maggot cultivation media, which is considered to have potential as an innovative solution in managing organic waste as well as an economically valuable feed alternative.
“This is one of the efforts so that handling is not only suppressive, but also provides added value through research and innovation,” he explained.
In the future, he continued, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government plans to strengthen handling steps through cross-sector coordination. Synergy will involve the Administrative Mayors in Jakarta’s five regions, the Environmental Agency, and other related parties.
Through this collaboration, it is hoped that suckerfish control efforts can be carried out more massively, in an integrated and sustainable manner.
“It is hoped that these steps can accelerate the recovery of water quality in Jakarta, so that the river ecosystem becomes healthy again and provides benefits for the community,” he concluded.