Across Malaysia and many parts of the world, Pleco, commonly known locally as Ikan Bandaraya, has become one of the fastest-growing invasive freshwater species. Originally introduced through the ornamental fish trade, Pleco populations have expanded rapidly into rivers, lakes and waterways, where they compete with native fish, damage riverbanks through burrowing activities and disrupt freshwater ecosystems.

While many removal programmes have successfully reduced local populations, one important question remains:

What happens to the fish after they are removed?

For many programmes, the answer is simple—disposal.

At Planters International Berhad, we believe an environmental problem should become an environmental opportunity.

A Circular Economy Approach

Rather than treating captured Pleco as waste, Planters has successfully demonstrated a Proof of Concept (POC) to convert invasive Pleco into biochar through an innovative biomass utilisation process.

The initiative supports the principles of a circular economy, where biological waste is transformed into valuable environmental products instead of being disposed of in landfills.

This approach has the potential to reduce disposal requirements while creating new opportunities for sustainable resource recovery.

What is Biochar?

Biochar is a stable carbon-rich material produced through the thermal conversion of biomass under controlled conditions.

For decades, biochar has attracted global interest for its potential applications in:

Soil improvement
Agricultural productivity
Land rehabilitation
Environmental remediation
Water treatment research
Carbon management
Nature-based Solutions (NbS)

By converting invasive Pleco into biochar, the same biomass that would otherwise become waste may instead contribute towards environmental restoration initiatives.

Encouraging Laboratory Results

Following the successful production of Pleco-derived biochar, independent laboratory analyses have produced encouraging preliminary findings.

The analyses indicate characteristics suitable for continued evaluation in environmental and agricultural applications, including:

Mineral-rich composition
Beneficial calcium content
Beneficial phosphorus content
Alkaline properties suitable for acidic soil improvement
Potential for environmental rehabilitation applications

These results provide an important technical foundation for the next stage of controlled field validation and performance assessment.

While additional field studies remain ongoing, the early findings demonstrate significant potential for further development.

Supporting Sustainable River Management

Removing invasive species is only part of the solution.

A truly sustainable management approach also considers how removed biomass can be responsibly utilised.

By converting harvested Pleco into biochar, river management programmes may potentially:

Reduce landfill disposal
Recover value from invasive biomass
Support sustainable agriculture
Contribute towards ecosystem restoration
Promote circular economy practices

This creates an integrated approach where invasive species management extends beyond removal and contributes towards broader environmental sustainability.

A Solution Beyond Malaysia

The challenge posed by invasive Pleco is not unique to Malaysia.

Many countries across Southeast Asia, South America, North America and other regions continue to experience increasing populations of invasive Pleco in freshwater ecosystems.

Planters believes the approach demonstrated through this Proof of Concept has the potential to support government agencies, river authorities, fisheries departments, researchers and environmental organisations seeking sustainable alternatives for invasive species management.

Collaboration Opportunities

Planters International Berhad welcomes collaboration with:

Government agencies
Fisheries departments
River and water authorities
Universities and research institutions
Plantation companies
Environmental NGOs
Waste management operators
International organisations managing invasive aquatic species

Whether your organisation is exploring invasive species management, biomass utilisation, environmental restoration or circular economy initiatives, we welcome opportunities to collaborate on pilot projects, technical discussions and applied research.

About Planters International Berhad

Planters International Berhad is an environmental technology and nature-based solutions company specialising in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, biomass valorisation, biochar technologies, environmental intelligence and sustainable circular economy solutions.

Through science, innovation and strategic partnerships, Planters develops practical solutions that transform environmental challenges into long-term ecological and economic opportunities.

Let's Collaborate

We welcome engagement with government agencies, research institutions, river management authorities, universities and organisations interested in sustainable approaches to invasive species management, circular economy and environmental restoration.

For further information or to discuss potential collaboration, please contact:

Email:eva@planters.life

Together, we can transform invasive species into sustainable environmental solutions.

Turning Invasive Pleco into Biochar: A Sustainable Solution for River Restoration