Freshwater rays, other species in Ayeyawady River need conservation

U Maung Maung Oo, an environmental activist, told The Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM) that the number of other species that should be preserved, including freshwater rays, in addition to the Irrawaddy dolphin, is increasing in the Ayeyawady River.
There is a large number of non-native invasive species, and the disappearance of original species is not good. In terms of nutritional value, local varieties are better, he said.
Although there were freshwater rays in the Ayeyawady River, a few of them were only caught in the river near Letpanchay village in NyaungU Township.
“No one eats suckermouth catfish. Fishes that don’t belong here increase, and our species disappear. Their numbers are reduced. There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of hilsa. People know about the hilsa’s good taste. In addition to the Irrawaddy dolphin, we have a lot of resources that should be researched and preserved, including the freshwater rays,” he said.
In addition, lobsters were caught in the upper part of Letpanchay, so such an area with rare animals should be preserved, he added.
“It should be preserved. In fishing styles, fishing block allocation and lake auctions. It’s a pity if it disappears. It is not easy to breed any animal in the river. You can breed in a fish pond if you wish. But farmed fish and river fish are different. The wild chicken has a different taste from the CP chicken. That is obvious. The value of nutritional content is different,” he said. — Htet Oo Maung/ZN/ED