PEKANBARU - It turns out that Riau Province has a valuable asset, namely the smallest betta fish in the world, known as Betta Coccina (cupang api-api) or New Red.

According to the Head of the Aquaculture Division of the Riau Province, Marine and Fisheries Service, Odor Juliana, the International Betta Club (IBC) stated that Riau Province had the smallest type of betta fish in the world.

According to him, betta coccina or the new red is very rare and must be cultivated to maintain its sustainability.

"Its name is the betta coccina (cupang api-api) because it comes from Bagan Siapi-Api, Rokan Hilir (Rohil)," said Juliana in Pekanbaru.

The length of this fish is only 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. It has a deep red color and greenish eyes.

"This new red fish is indeed beautiful, very small and its existence is very rare," he explained.

To get this one fish, Julianan said he had to search the waters in the territory of Rohil, Bagan Siapi-api. The price is quite expensive, about hundreds to millions of rupiah.

Meanwhile, his party will continue to strive to conserve these fantastic fish to prevent them from becoming extinct.

"This is the biggest asset in Riau, we, from the Riau Provincial Government will continue to strive for its preservation," said Juliana.

Juliana hopes that there are people who can cultivate these rare fish so that the population will increase and this Malay country is famous for having very fantastic fish. ***