MALAYSIA: FRESHWATER FISHERIES DEVELOP NEW BREED OF FISH
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 21 Jul 2015
English/Nat
Scientists in Malaysia are trying to come up with a bigger, tastier freshwater fish.
Dwindling marine fish stocks and pollution have seen many Malaysian's adding freshwater fish to their diet.
And they look set to remain on the menu.
Freshwater fisheries are becoming increasingly important to Malaysia.
As marine fish stocks dwindle and fears grow over marine pollution, research work focuses on freshwater stocks.
Tilapia has been hailed as aquatic chicken. The fish is hardy, has a firm white flesh and a high resistance to disease.
Work with Tilapia breeding has put the country's Freshwater Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) on the world map.
Ten years ago, a batch of over a thousand Red Tilapia Hybrid fry was obtained from Thailand.
Researchers set out to intensify the colour -- red Tilapia being higher priced that the common black or grey varieties.
Within two years, researchers had managed to ensure fish of a high colour, and were already started on getting fish to grow faster.
Demand for the fish is growing.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"These fresh water fisheries are being more important these days because of the declining marine fisheries. In the near future you can see the development of more fresh water fish being produced and there will be a bigger market for fresh water fish. Especially with marine pollution too, more people are turning to fresh water fish. At the moment people are still getting used to the taste of fresh water fish even in Malaysia you can see that it is becoming more and more important and more popular."
SUPER CAPTION: Name currently not available
The centre is carrying out research aimed at coming up with a Tilapia of improved overall quality, a fish to suit the choosy diner.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"At the moment we are mainly concerned for selection for body conformation, which means we want a fish with a smaller head and a bigger body with more flesh."
SUPER CAPTION: Name currently not available
Another important aspect of the research, is fish nutrition.
Most Malaysian fish farms feed their stocks on special pellets which are commercially manufactured according to formulas obtained through F-F-R-C research.
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