Jakarta Massively Removes Suckermouth Catfish, Food Safety Concerns Arise as Vendors Mix Low-Priced Fish Meat
The Jakarta provincial government has removed approximately 7 tons of invasive suckermouth catfish due to environmental and food safety threats. Concerns about food safety emerged as some street vendors were found mixing this fish, potentially containing heavy metals, into shao-mai with other fish meat at low prices. The government is considering action, but the disposal method has also drawn criticism from religious organizations regarding animal welfare.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 13:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 13:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 14:46 (1h 14m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA intern reporter Luo Weijia, Taipei 21st) Indonesian waters are facing a severe invasion by the suckermouth catfish, commonly known as "trash fish." The Jakarta provincial government launched a large-scale eradication program on the 17th. Media today revealed that many street vendors selling shao-mai mix suckermouth catfish meat with 'tudao' fish (Chinese herring) to lower costs, raising food safety concerns. Government officials stated they would take action.
Kompas reported that the Jakarta provincial government initiated a comprehensive capture operation on the 17th. Governor Pramono Anung personally participated in the fishing efforts, clearing a total of 6.98 metric tons, or approximately 68,880 suckermouth catfish, from its five administrative districts. The captured fish were destroyed by on-site burial.
According to a report from the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, the suckermouth catfish, originating from South America, was introduced to Indonesia as an ornamental fish. It later entered natural waters due to abandonment by owners. The suckermouth catfish possesses extremely strong environmental tolerance, capable of surviving in highly polluted and oxygen-deficient rivers. Furthermore, the lack of natural predators like crocodiles or large birds in the Indonesian ecosystem has led to its explosive growth.
Anung stated that suckermouth catfish already account for about 60% of the total biological volume in Jakarta's rivers. They not only heavily prey on native fish eggs and disrupt the original ecological balance but also damage embankment structures and cause collapse risks due to their habit of drilling holes and nesting in riverbanks, severely threatening river drainage efficiency and urban flood control safety. This has become an urgent environmental governance challenge for Indonesia.
Hasudungan A. Sidabalok, Head of the Jakarta Food Security and Fisheries Agency, added that suckermouth catfish operate in highly polluted riverbed sediments, accumulating high concentrations of heavy metals such as mercury and lead, as well as pesticide residues. Long-term consumption could lead to nervous system damage or cancer. Unless sourced from a clean, controllable aquaculture environment, it is not suitable for processing and consumption.
Regarding recent rumors that some vendors mix suckermouth catfish into 'tudao' fish as a raw material for shao-mai, Kompas reported today that Wandi, a shao-mai vendor who has worked in Jakarta for 25 years, confirmed that many peers use suckermouth catfish meat due to cost considerations.
He stated that compared to 'tudao' fish, which costs nearly 100,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about NT$183) per kilogram, suckermouth catfish only costs 25,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about NT$45), representing a significant price difference for vendors amidst economic pressure and soaring raw material prices in Indonesia. Hasudungan expressed concern about this, indicating that the government will provide guidance to these vendors and take action.
Furthermore, Indonesia's national news agency Antara reported that the Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia) criticized the Jakarta government's method of mass removal of suckermouth catfish. While clearing invasive species aligns with the Islamic spirit of environmental protection, the current practice of "directly burying alive" captured fish violates Islamic principles of "kindness to all creatures" and animal welfare, causing unnecessary suffering to living beings.
Anung recently responded that the current method is the most direct means of controlling invasive species. He plans to invite experts from relevant fields to jointly study and develop more humane and religiously compliant handling methods for Jakarta and other regions of Indonesia in the future. (Editor: Tang Peijun/Tian Ruihua) 1150421
(CNA intern reporter Luo Weijia, Taipei 21st) Indonesian waters are facing a severe invasion by the suckermouth catfish, commonly known as "trash fish." The Jakarta provincial government launched a large-scale eradication program on the 17th. Media today revealed that many street vendors selling shao-mai mix suckermouth catfish meat with 'tudao' fish (Chinese herring) to lower costs, raising food safety concerns. Government officials stated they would take action.
Kompas reported that the Jakarta provincial government initiated a comprehensive capture operation on the 17th. Governor Pramono Anung personally participated in the fishing efforts, clearing a total of 6.98 metric tons, or approximately 68,880 suckermouth catfish, from its five administrative districts. The captured fish were destroyed by on-site burial.
According to a report from the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, the suckermouth catfish, originating from South America, was introduced to Indonesia as an ornamental fish. It later entered natural waters due to abandonment by owners. The suckermouth catfish possesses extremely strong environmental tolerance, capable of surviving in highly polluted and oxygen-deficient rivers. Furthermore, the lack of natural predators like crocodiles or large birds in the Indonesian ecosystem has led to its explosive growth.
Anung stated that suckermouth catfish already account for about 60% of the total biological volume in Jakarta's rivers. They not only heavily prey on native fish eggs and disrupt the original ecological balance but also damage embankment structures and cause collapse risks due to their habit of drilling holes and nesting in riverbanks, severely threatening river drainage efficiency and urban flood control safety. This has become an urgent environmental governance challenge for Indonesia.
Hasudungan A. Sidabalok, Head of the Jakarta Food Security and Fisheries Agency, added that suckermouth catfish operate in highly polluted riverbed sediments, accumulating high concentrations of heavy metals such as mercury and lead, as well as pesticide residues. Long-term consumption could lead to nervous system damage or cancer. Unless sourced from a clean, controllable aquaculture environment, it is not suitable for processing and consumption.
Regarding recent rumors that some vendors mix suckermouth catfish into 'tudao' fish as a raw material for shao-mai, Kompas reported today that Wandi, a shao-mai vendor who has worked in Jakarta for 25 years, confirmed that many peers use suckermouth catfish meat due to cost considerations.
He stated that compared to 'tudao' fish, which costs nearly 100,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about NT$183) per kilogram, suckermouth catfish only costs 25,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about NT$45), representing a significant price difference for vendors amidst economic pressure and soaring raw material prices in Indonesia. Hasudungan expressed concern about this, indicating that the government will provide guidance to these vendors and take action.
Furthermore, Indonesia's national news agency Antara reported that the Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia) criticized the Jakarta government's method of mass removal of suckermouth catfish. While clearing invasive species aligns with the Islamic spirit of environmental protection, the current practice of "directly burying alive" captured fish violates Islamic principles of "kindness to all creatures" and animal welfare, causing unnecessary suffering to living beings.
Anung recently responded that the current method is the most direct means of controlling invasive species. He plans to invite experts from relevant fields to jointly study and develop more humane and religiously compliant handling methods for Jakarta and other regions of Indonesia in the future. (Editor: Tang Peijun/Tian Ruihua) 1150421