MIRI: The Sarawak government is thrilled with the discovery of the world’s tiniest freshwater fish in the state and is prepared to accord this newfound creature the status of a totally protected species.

This latest discovery is also prompting state authorities to be more careful about human development activities in swampy regions because there is potential for even more astounding discoveries, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam.

Dr Chan, who is state Agriculture Modernisation, Industrial Development and Disaster Relief Committee chairman, said the discovery of the Paedocypris progenetica announced by a group of foreign scientists in Paris a few days ago is pleasant news to the state.

“It is the first time I am hearing about this type of fish. Such new discoveries are to be expected in Sarawak because more than half of this state has not been explored.

“I will ask people in the State Forestry and State Biodiversity Centre to conduct studies on this discovery and look into the possibility of declaring it a protected species,” he said in an interview on Saturday.

A group of scientists from Europe and Singapore announced in Paris last week that they have discovered the world’s tiniest fish that is only about 8mm when fully grown.

The scientists said the skinny and transparent vertebrate is only found in highly acidic peat swamps in Sumatra, Sabah and Sarawak.

Dr Chan acknowledged that state authorities do not have the manpower, expertise and technology to explore the geographically and logistically difficult regions in the state.