Don't Leave Memories, Banjarmasin Residents Let's Preserve Kalabau Fish

The fish mascot is used as a monument on Jalan MT Haryono, Central Banjarmasin (Photo: ANTARA)

BANJARMASIN - The preservation of the Kalabau fish which is the mascot of Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan continues to be promoted. The fish mascot is used as a monument on Jalan MT Haryono in Kertak Baru Ulu, Central Banjarmasin.

One way to conserve fish is carried out by the Banjarmasin City Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Security Service by releasing thousands of young fish at two points of the Martapura tributary.

"Today we are carrying out fish restocking, namely, 10 thousand kalabau and catfish in the Martapura tributaries in the East and South Banjarmasin areas," said Plt. Head of the Banjarmasin City Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Service, M Makhmud in Banjarmasin, Tuesday, June 15, reported by Antara.

Restocking means re-dispersal of fish species that historically inhabit these waters.

"The Kalabau fish, which is the mascot of our city, is starting to become difficult to find in these waters, so we must continue to encourage its conservation by spreading its seeds into rivers, in the hope that it will continue to grow," said Makhmud.

In addition to Martapura, the stocking of Kalabau and catfish seeds was also carried out in the Gampa River in East Banjarmasin and the Handil River Kupang or South Banjarmasin Handil Palung.

"The two rivers are good enough for development, the environment is still quite sustainable," said Makhmud.

There is not much cultivation of this kalabau fish in this city. In fact, the company has to take it from its nursery in Mandiangin village, Karang Intan sub-district, Banjar Regency.

"So there is a special nursery for this kalabau fish, it is already difficult to find in other places, even in Banjarmasin itself, so we have to really take care of the population," said Makhmud.

He hopes that with this step, the kalabau fish, which has become the city's official mascot, won't just be a story.