Explosion of invasive 'janitor fish' sparks mass removal operation in Indonesia's capital Jakarta

Cheers broke out in Indonesias capital on Friday as residents city workers and environmental volunteers hauled bulging nets of invasive fish to the surface of a reservoir in an operation to crack down on janitor fishAuthorities are seeking to remove at least 10 tons 9 metric tons of the fish from Jakartas waterways an effort officials hope will restore balance to the Ciliwung River and renew public attention on water qualityFrom the polluted river to the concrete embankments and skyscraperlined canals of the citys heart the dark shapes of the fish cling tightly to the river walls At first glance they appear almost prehistoric with armoured bodies gleaming a dull brown beneath the murky surfaceJanitor fish or suckermouth catfish known scientifically as Pterygoplichthys and locally as sapusapu arent native to Indonesia Imported decades ago for aquariums because of their ability to consume algae they were later released and found a home in Jakartas heavily polluted rivers The fish can grow up to 50 centimetres nearly 20 inches and live for 1015 yearsExperts have long warned that unchecked populations of invasive species can destabilise freshwater ecosystems particularly in densely populated urban areas like JakartaDian Rosleine an ecologist from the Bandung Institute of Technology said that the adaptability of janitor fish is very high so that even in polluted conditions it can survive when other species cantSo these fish are biological indicators that the water is in poor condition she saidThe Ciliwung once carried clear water from the mountains of West Java into Jakarta Today it flows through dense neighbourhoods carrying untreated household waste and industrial runoff Concrete walls replaced riverbanks During dry months the water warms and slows conditions that favour janitor fish over native species Rosleine saidJakarta authorities have responded with mass removals targeting the janitor fish in city waterways The campaign began last weekThe cleanup drive ordered by Jakarta Gov Pramono Anung was carried out simultaneously in all five administrative cities of the capital involving hundreds of personnel including firefighters disaster officers and local residents They have netted and buried more than seven tons of janitor fish across the city within a weekThe cleanup on Friday at a 6meterdeep 19footdeep reservoir in East Jakartas Ciracas neighbourhood drew curious crowds as city workers collected about 320 kilograms 705 pounds of the fishPiles of wriggling janitor fish filled red barrels along the reservoir tangible proof that something at last was being doneThe janitor fish populations have reproduced at a notable level while also feeding on native species East Jakartas mayor Munjirin told reporters when visiting Fridays cleanup The impact extends beyond ecosystem destruction contributing to structural damage to riverbank and embankment wallsMunjirin who like many Indonesians uses a single name said that the coordinated operation marks the beginning of a sustained effort to control the species with regular monitoring and removal planned to prevent further ecological damageHowever he vowed a review of the programs method after the Indonesian Ulema Council or MUI raised concerns over perceived cruelty pledging that all fish will be dead before burialWhile endorsing the cleanup MUIs fatwa commission warned that burying the janitor fish alive amounts to a violation of animal rights enshrined in Islamic teachingAuthorities are still cautious about what happens next As janitor fish are edible in some countries concerns over heavy metal contamination mean they wont be immediately approved for consumption in Jakarta Instead officials are exploring alternatives including processing the fish into animal feed or fertiliserAnung said that the cleanup method will require the fish to be dead before burial at designated sites with hygiene standards applied to block their return to rivers or tradeThe Jakarta governor noted that buried janitor fish can serve as natural compost and suggested adopting Brazils model where the fish are turned into charcoal to generate greater economic benefitsYet experts caution that removal is only a beginning Without improving wastewater management and reducing pollution the river could quickly return to the same conditionThe Ciliwung River requires rehabilitation our major challenge that must be addressed Rosleine said Addressing the symptoms without tackling the root causes will not provide a lasting solutionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever