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A study on the distribution of freshwater fishes at several lotic systems around Bukit Merah Reservoir, Perak, Peninsular Malaysia has been conducted for 15 months, starting from November 2012 until January 2014. The study areas covered five river feeders, namely Sungai Merah, Sungai Ara, Sungai Kurau, Sungai Jelai and Sungai Jelutong with eight stations that flow into the Bukit Merah Reservoir. Forty two fish species, out from 16 families with 1856 specimens were recorded during the study period. No endemic or protected fish species has been recorded whereas only one exotic fish species, i.e. Barbonymus gonionotus has been recorded at lotic system. Sungai Kurau recorded highest species number with 26 species followed by Sungai Ara (25), Sungai Merah (21), Sungai Jelutung (19) whereas the lowest has been recorded at Sungai Jelai with 16 species. The first three dominant families were Cyprinidae, which represent 38.1% of the total species caught followed by Bagridae (11.9%) and Channidae (9.5%). Cyprinids become the most abundant fishes that represent 38.0% of the total individuals caught followed by Bagridae (12.0%) and Channidae (10.0%). However, this fish species checklist was not completed yet due to limited utilization of sampling gears which use solely on cast net. Hence, further study in terms of fish distributions by using different types of sampling gear should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preliminary study of fish inventory within Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) and Penang Integrated Agriculture Development Authority (IADA) irrigation canals system was conducted at six different sampling stations by using three sets of cast net from October 2011 to February 2012. In situ water parameters indicated that SPU and IADA irrigation canals are in good and healthy condition that support a lot of aquatic organisms such as fishes. A total of 22 species consisted of 11 families with 942 specimens was captured and identified during the study period. Cyprinidae is the dominant family recorded, which represents 45.6% of the total number of species recorded followed by Bagridae and Osphronemidae (9.2 % each) and another eight fish families with 4.5 % each. The first five dominant species can be found at all sampling stations. The species are Osteochilus hasseltii, which represents 27.3% of the total specimens captured followed by Pristolepis fasciatus (18.6%), Puntius altus (16.0%), Anabas testudineus (13.1%) and Cyclocheilichthys apogon (10.3%). This study also showed that armored catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) has been widely distributed in Penang IADA irrigation canals that three out of six sampling stations are positive recorded. This inventory study should be extended and continued as the species checklist present here is a preliminary checklist that is yet to cover the entire Penang IADA irrigation canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the oldest reservoirs in Peninsular Malaysia, Bukit Merah Reservoir, is a place in which locals participate in fishing activities. Inland fisheries are important to individuals, society and the environment; whereby they generate a source of income and food security. It is essential to gauge the nutrition value of fish caught in this location as food source, especially in terms of fatty acid composition, to better demonstrate its potential towards the betterment of human health and general well-being. From an initial list of 47 fish species available in Bukit Merah Reservoir, a total of seven edible freshwater fish species were identified, namely tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii), Javanese barb (Barbonymus gonionotus), hampala barb (Hampala macrolepidota), beardless barb (Cyclocheilichthys apogon), glassfish (Oxygaster anomalura), striped snakehead (Channa striata) and horseface loach (Acantopsis dialuzona), and muscle fatty acid content was analysed to determine their nutritional value. Muscle of cyprinid fish contained substantial amount of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) compared to fish from Channidae and Cobitidae families. Javanese and tinfoil barbs muscle recorded the highest levels of combined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) indicating the highest nutritional value comparatively. Unexpectedly, the striped snakehead, a predatory carnivore, contained lower levels of LC-PUFA compared to detrivorous/ herbivorous fishes. This further justifies that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content in fish muscle varies according to their feeding habits. Even though it has been recommended that marine fish be consumed to improve health to a certain extent, there still are benefits of consuming freshwater fish, as there are several species which contain considerable amounts of beneficial omega-3 PUFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted at five selected rivers around Bukit Merah Reservoir, Perak, Malaysia for eight weeks in order to determine the fish diversity and distribution. A total of 28 species comprised of 9 families were identified. The study depicted that there were significant changes to the fish composition when compared to previous study which had captured 36 species due to different areas covered and different types of sampling gear used between both studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]