Order : Cypriniformes
Family : CYPRINIDAE
Species : Hypsibarbus sp.

These photos of Krai (Hypsibarbus sp.) were taken on the Tahan River (Sungei Tahan) at Taman Negara, Peninsular Malaysia.

For many years this stretch of the Tahan River seemed almost devoid of fish. During a visit in 1999 there was scarcely a single fish to be seen in these clean, unpolluted waters - the area had simply been overfished. In recent years, however, fishing has been banned in the area and it is protected as a fish sanctuary. The resurgence in the fish population seems nothing short of remarkable. A return trip in 2006 revealed a river full of fish once again.

These images graphically illustrate what appropriate management of fishing activities can achieve in areas once severely impacted by recreational fishing. In areas of Taman Negara still open to recreational fishing, the catch-and-release rationale is becoming better understood and more widespread amongst serious anglers.

The Krai specimens shown here are all a healthy 30 to 40 cm in length.
 

Figs 1 and 2 : Photos taken at Sungei Tahan, Taman Negara, Peninsular Malaysia.