At a Glance
The Lake Tawar Carp—also called Kawan—is a little fish living sky high! This barb is only found in Lake Laut Tawar, a freshwater lake in the caldera of an extinct Volcano on Sumatra in Aceh Province, Indonesia. The lake is 1,200 meters (about 4,000 feet) above sea level, and at its deepest is 80 meters (262 feet) deep.
Historically, the Kawan supported an important local fishery and was central to the region’s cultural identity and economy. It was such a popular food that the lake became a tourist destination, attracting visitors who wanted to eat this unique species.
The Kawan’s population has declined sharply over the recent decades, as reflected by a dramatic reduction in catch, making it highly vulnerable to collapse. Lake Laut Tawar has been facing multiple threats from overfishing, invasive species, pollution from agricultural runoff and a drop in water levels due to illegal logging, sedimentation and urbanization.
At a glance
Taxa
Fish
Geography
Indonesia
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Freshwater lakes
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Pollution, eutrophication, sedimentation, overfishing, introduced exotic fish species
Potential Recovery Actions
Research on population size, biology, and ecology, protection and management of Lake Laut Tawar
