Jakarta's catfish problem: Fixing the cause, not just the symptom

Jakarta authorities recently captured a staggering 68,800 suckermouth catfish, totaling nearly seven tons, in a single operation on the Ciliwung River. The captured fish were then buried alive, adding to over 12 tons collected by April 10. While the public may have viewed this as a decisive action, the article argues that this response misinterprets the situation.

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The abundance of suckermouth catfish in the Ciliwung River is a sign that this river ecosystem is in poor condition.

The proliferation of suckermouth catfish, an invasive species native to the Amazon, is not a sign of a healthy river but rather a stark indicator of its severely degraded ecosystem. These fish thrive in polluted waters with low oxygen levels, conditions that are lethal to native species. Their tough, armored bodies also make them difficult for local predators to consume.

Data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry indicates that the Ciliwung River's water quality is 95.5 percent polluted. In such an environment, the suckermouth catfish flourishes due to a lack of natural competitors and predators. Their population has exploded, increasing 24-fold between 2011 and 2023-2024.

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Capturing tons of suckermouth catfish without improving water quality is a solution that will never be complete.

The article contends that focusing solely on capturing the fish is a superficial solution. The root cause of the problem is the continuous discharge of domestic and industrial waste into the river. Until the water quality is improved, the suckermouth catfish population will continue to rebound, rendering capture efforts futile. The author likens this approach to mopping a floor while the roof is still leaking.

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It's like mopping the floor while the roof is still leaking.