TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HELP

SAVE OUR RIVER FISHES

• Our river fishes are NOT an infinite resource! They CAN become extinct! There are 380 recorded species of freshwater fish in Malaysia. Now, there are hardly 100 species left!
• Fishes like the kelah, sebarau, kelesa and tengas are more valuable alive in the water that they are dead. A dead kelah is worth about RM60 per kg., but dedicated anglers are willing to pay up to RM1500 to catch-and-release the same fish in our National Park rivers!
• If our rivers are spoiled and depleted of these fishes, you have no wild places to fish. Fishing is not about just catching fish. It’s about overcoming challenges in natural surroundings. If we lose the river fishes, you are only left with alien fish in small ponds and lombongs!
• If these fishes disappear, local boatmen and guides will lose their livelihood.
• River fishes, if we conserve them, will multiply and provide for both local communities and visiting fishermen.
• Many of our fishes are unique to our country or the region. We would be the losers if they become extinct.
• Kelah, kelesa, temoleh, toman, sebarau, tengas and tapah can be world-class sportfishes.
• These fishes will provide the challenge and thrill for anglers, on par with the sport fishes of the world like trout, salmon, tigerfish, Nile perch, wels, taimen etc.
• If we lose them, international fishermen will not come to our country, and we Malaysians will lose.
• There are more than 1 million recreational fishermen in Malaysia, and probably 500 million fishermen around the world.
• This represents a huge industry that involves fishing tackle, charters, hospitality, tourism etc.
• Your future children or grandchildren have a right to inherit these fishes
• It is your duty to help manage Mother Earth
• We have taken from the Earth, so let’s give something back...

HELP US SAVE THE RIVER SPORT FISHES!

The Kelah Action Group of Malaysia (KAGUM)

Chairman:                    Aznir Malek                 019-3204646  aznirm@tnb.com.my

Deputy Chairman:        Ti Lean Chuan             012-3031816  lcti@tm.net.my

Hon. Secretary   :         Eric Low                      019-3111292  elow@pd.jaring.my

Hon. Treasurer   :         Steven Koh                  016-2082545 stevenk@tm.net.my 

Committee Member:    Bob Chang                   019-2739362  ubobmy@yahoo.com 

                                       Tony Wee                 0122012698   tonywee17@gmail.com 

About KAGUM

HISTORY

KAGUM was the brainchild of a small group of anglers who were concerned about the dwindling fish resources in the rivers of our country. After some discussion via the Malaysia Fishing Net (MFN) forum, they decided to form an action group to help the country conserve, sustain and develop these valuable resources.

Thus, in February 2005, KAGUM was formed.

At the centre of attention is the kelah, arguably the most valuable resource for the sportfishing industry and also the jungle-based eco-tourism industry. In the process of conserving the kelah, the plight of other river fishes and the river basin itself would also be attended to.

 

OUR VISION

Toward Malaysia being a mature eco-tourism destination, with well-managed rivers and conserved gamefishes, especially the kelah.

Vision Rationale
 

•	The ultimate objective is for the country to be a desirable eco-tourism destination.
•	Well-managed rivers include rivers, their basins/watersheds, impoundments and lakes.
•	Conserving the kelah will invariably involve conserving other flora and fauna connected to the rivers, in particular other fish species.
•	The KAGUM vision hints that we are a group that tries to support the country (and thus it’s relevant authorities and organisations) in making it an eco-tourism attraction via river basins, sportfishing, and focusing on the kelah as the ultimate game fish. We also support conservation and environment protection. OBJECTIVES

•	To build awareness among the Malaysian public and relevant organisations on the importance of conserving the kelah and its habitat. In the process, we will gather relevant knowledge, and disseminate and share the learnings.
•	To initiate, participate and / or support relevant projects related to river and kelah conservation.
•	To support relevant eco-tourism programs which are geared toward river and kelah conservation.
•	To ensure that conservation or eco-tourism activities would involve and benefit local communities.

WHY THE KELAH

This sport fish is seen by many Malaysian anglers as the most supreme sport fish in our rivers. It is a fish unique to our country and the region, and it represents the ultimate challenge to be pursued in beautiful natural surroundings. Now, both the fish and its beautiful environment is under threat.
Thus, the approach of KAGUM is to help Malaysia save our rivers and their fishes, with particular focus on the kelah.

THE KELAH STORY

THE KELAH STORY

Deep in our pristine jungle rivers swim a fish so majestic, so beautiful and so elusive, it has become a holy grail for Malaysian and international anglers. The kelah invariably represents the ultimate challenge for these sportsmen. To locate this fish is already a triumph. Then comes the challenge of enticing it to take a bait, lure or fly. Finally, the angler has to contend with its extreme strength and tenacity before it can be brought to the sandy river bank, to be lovingly photographed and released, none the worse for wear. In fact, many a time it’s the angler who is exhausted, albeit elated!

The kelah is one of Malaysia’s precious ecological heritage; a fish that is unique to the region. It is of very high economic value too. Anglers and eco-tourists are willing to pay significant sums of money to meet this fish! The kelah is essentially a carp, placed in the order of Cypriniformes, although it is loosely related to the European barbel (Barbus barbus).. It’s closer relatives are the mahseer species of India (Tor spp.) and several other countries in Asia. You could say that kelah is amember of Asia’s prime sport fishes.

Kelah can be found in the mighty rivers of our country: Sg Pahang and its tributaries (Tembeling, Jelai, Tanum, Tahan, Keniam, Sat etc), S. Perak and its tributaries (Kejar, Chiong, Singor, Temengor), Sg. Muda and its tributaries (Teliang, Gawi), the rivers feeding Lake Kenyir (Petuang, Cacing, Terenggan, Tembat), Sg. Kelantan and its tributaries (Galas, nenggiri, Lebir, Aring, Pertang), The Endau-Rompin rivers (Endau, Kincin, Kemapan, Jasin, Mas, Lemakuh), and the Batang Rajang and Sg Kinabatangan systems. In fact, almost all the major rivers in the country – with the exception of Perlis – used to have stocks of this beautiful fish.

However, factors like polluiton, river degradation due to silting, the straightening of rivers and deforestation have combined to destroy the habitat of this fish. Further aggravating the problem is the unscrupulous fishing activities like illegal netting, bombing, poisoning and electro-fishing that have severely decimated the stocks of kelah.

 

Scientific name	Tor tambroides; Tor tambra
English name	Malaysian Red Mahseer; Thai Red Mahseer; Greater Brook Carp
Local names	Kelah (Peninsular Malaysia), Empurau/Semah (Sarawak), Pelian (Sabah)
Salient features	Large strong head, thick lips with median lobe lower lip. Body cylindrical with slight compression; large scales. Colour ranges from pale to bright red. Fins range from pink to red to blue. Large forked tail and rudder-like anal fin.
Distribution	Indian, Myanmar, Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra.
Habitat	Medium to large rivers with rocky, sandy and leafy bottom. Prefers highly oxygenated water and dark environment.
Habits	Stations itself in prime lies where its needs of security, shelter and food it readily served. May forage in shallow areas or close to rapids when it is assured of security. A very shy fish.
Diet	Jungle fruits, insects, crustaceans. When mature, it may forage on small baitfish.

If you were to be a kelah today, these are the probable scenarios you would have to face in your now-shortened life:

•	Your home of deep, dark pool laced with rocks and sunken timber would now be covered with a thick layer of silt, since the clearing of vast tracts of forest would have resulted run-off due to rains.
•	Your spawned eggs would not hatch. The eggs would be smothered by the silt, depriving them of the much-needed oxygen.
•	You face on a daily basis a plethora of nets and humans with bombs, poisons, harpoons, and electrodes in their quest for a nice supper or a fast buck.
•	You choke on the chemicals from remote factories and run-offs from agricultural activities.
•	Your river gets straightened, the river becomes too fast and too shallow for you to survive. It’s like living on a walkalator.

With these scenarios, the kelah and other prime fishes like the temoleh, kelesa, kerai and tengas are doomed and heading for extinction. Ethical anglers were the first group to realise this issue. As fishermen, they are in a unique position to be able to see first hand what is happening in our rivers. Many have started the self-imposed practice of ‘catch-and-release’, preferring to go home with a cherished photo rather than a dead fish. Now, a group of concerned citizens have got together to help the authorities and the angling fraternity to conserve this precious fish. Eventually, it is hoped that it will be for the good of all – the eco-tourism industry, the recreational fishing groups, the country, and most importantly, the fish!

 

How Can You Help?

We call ourselves KAGUM ( Kelah Association of Malaysia). 

Our activities will take a multi-pronged approach :

•	Building awareness of the plight of our rivers, their fishes and especially the kelah
•	Coordinating and participating in conservation activities eg. community-based fish conservation, river restoration
•	Promoting conservation-centric involvement among corporations and relevant organizations in Malaysia
•	Supporting the river- and fish-conservation programs spearheaded by the authorities
•	Establishing a knowledge portal for the community on the kelah, Malaysian fishes and rivers.

So, how can you help?  

Well, you can join us as an active member! Or you can just join us in our activities whenever you have the free time. You can also support us with the much-needed funds, or sponsor in kind or cash towards certain activities/events that we are involved in. Frankly, every bit helps!

For more information and to lend a hand to KAGUM, 

please call : 

Aznir Malek - President - 019.3204646 

or email to kagumblog@gmail.com