SHARING OF TECHNOLOGY AND JOINT VENTURES BOOST AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama)-- The sharing of technology and joint
ventures among the Developing 8 (D8) countries in the production of quality
seeds and animal feed can generate growth for the aquaculture industry in
Malaysia, Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) director-general
Mustafa Ahmad said Thursday.

He said Malaysia could no longer rely on fishermen's catch alone for its
fish supply with the depletion in fish resources.

"Therefore, it is of importance that we increase fish production through the
aquaculture industry, and this can be achieved through the production of quality
fish seeds as well as reduce cost of fish food," he told Bernama at the D8
Ministers' Meeting on Food Security here Thursday.

Mustafa said generating aquaculture industry on a large-scale would not
adversely affect local fishermen's income because the industry focused more on
the rearing of fish with high commercial value like the sea-perch.

"We will still be dependent on fishermen for supply of fish like mackerel
and anchovies ," he added.

Mustafa said that based on the growth of the country's aquaculture industry
so far, fish production in Malaysia could be increased from 1.5 million metric
tonnes a year to 600 million metric tonnes a year in 2010.

"This aquaculture farming, besides complementing the food supply in the
country, also has potential for export," he added.

Besides that, he said, LKIM also hoped produce its own fish food by
obtaining the raw materials at cheaper price from the D8 countries.

"All this while, most fish food are imported from outside. To reduce
production cost, we have to produce our own fish food," he added.

--BERNAMA