Banjarbaru releases thousands gourami to maintain ecosystem

Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The City Government of Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan Province, released thousands of gourami (Osphronemus goramy) fish seeds to maintain the balance of aquatic ecosystem and increase fish populations.
 
The restocking of 5,000 gourami fish seeds was conducted by the Banjarbaru Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Office (DKP3) at the embung or reservoir area of Cempaka Urban Village, Wednesday.

"The release of gourami seeds is to increase fish population in public waters, as well as to maintain biodiversity ecosystem," said Head of DKP3 Abu Yajid Bustami.

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He explained that fish restocking into aquatic environment is to support effort to preserve water resources, including rivers, dams, reservoir, and the like.
 
"Through restocking utilizing waters in the reservoir, in addition to increase fish population to continue to maintain the balance of ecosystem, also to meet the nutritional needs of the community," he said.

Yajid emphasized that the most important goal of releasing gourami fish seeds is to increase the availability of fish production for people consumption, especially in the local area of Banjarbaru.
 
"Gourami fish seeds were chosen because they are one of the local fish that have high nutrition and high economic value, as well as being easy to breed in fresh waters," said Yajid.
 
"Our hope is that the embung can develop further for fish cultivation as well as a tourist spot, so community together with community groups must look after it to keep it well maintained," he said.

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