Kelisa fish or known as arowana fish is one of the most expensive aquatic species in the world. In fact, a platinum catfish has reached up to RM1.54 million. Why is the price comparable to the price of a Lamborghini car?
Kelisa fish is also called a dragon fish because its scales look like dragons in the Chinese folk tales. The Chinese tradition is synonymous with dragons, which is why many people like kelisa fish and believe that the fish will bring good luck and wealth.
The fish involved also symbolizes the status of wealth to its owner.
However, not all kelisa fish can reach the price of tens of thousands or millions of ringgit but for the price of a kelisa fish is still considered expensive.
A Singapore kelisa fish can reach up to RM900 while Malaysian goldfish can be sold for up to RM2,500. Rare species such as albino kelisa are said to reach about RM290,000.
Because breeding of these fish takes a long time, kelisa fish are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
In 1975, 183 countries signed an agreement to recognize kelisa as a species that needs to be protected and not allowed to be a ‘trade tool’ in any international trade deal.
However, the law involved made the public more obsessed and caused the demand for kelisa fish to increase. So, there is a black market that sells these fish, thus resulting in soaring prices.
In the United States (US), the country's authorities have banned the sale of catfish and those who 'remain stubborn' will try to buy it through the black market.
The story is different in Malaysia. Criminals are willing to break into the house of the owner of the kelisa fish just to steal the fish. This year alone, hundreds of catfish from the country are trying to be smuggled into China.
Due to the many criminal cases that occur due to kelisa fish, the owner of the fish will install a chip on the animal's stomach.
The chip contains information on the background of the fish and the serial number of the fish, thus making it easier for the authorities to combat illegal activities.
Those who buy kelisa fish will get the same certificate and serial number as the chip number installed in the animal's body.
These factors make kelisa fish the most expensive fish in the world and strictly controlled by the legal system in the world.
