Malaysia looks to double aquaculture output

Malaysia: Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Ahamad Sabki Mahmood said that was the target that has been set for the industry.

"The current production of fish through the aquaculture industry is 380,000 tonnes per year and we are targeting to produce 800,000 tonnes to meet with demand in the country and also for export," he said after flagging off the department's media familiarisation programme yesterday.

The four-day programme is aimed at building a collaborative effort with media practitioners and to also introduce the projects that have been implemented by the department to improve and expand the fishing industry. Ahamad said it is important to expand the aquaculture industry because Malaysia cannot rely solely on saltwater fishes as it is not enough.

"Our current population is 28 million and it is increasing. The demand for fish in Malaysia is also getting higher and this can be sustained through fishes reared in aquaculture farms."

He added that if the country succeeded in achieving the target of producing 800,000 metric tonnes of fishes from aquaculture farms, the nation's export would double.

Source: Nst.com.my