Tropical recirculating aquaculture system for commercial marine fish production

Abstract

85% of global fish slacks are over-exploited, depleted, fully exploited or in recovery from exploitation. Fishery resources in Malaysian waters had declined significantly from 2.56 tones per sQ. km in 1971 to only 0.21 tones per sq. km in 2007. Vision 2020 targets the agriculture sector to altain an annual growth of around 3.5%. The capt~re fiSheries and aquaculture sub-sector is targeted to playa main role in achieving this sector's projection. The Fisheries sector generates income and employment In Malaysia. Past policy focused on growth and increase of fish landings, while neglecting issues of resource sustainabilny, environment protection and SOCioeconomic upliftment of the fishing community. Annual total fish landings t.ave been exceeding the maximum sustainable yield. As a result, several species of local fishes have disappeared. Moreover, marine life habitats such as mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs, which are sanctuaries for the reproduction and regeneration of marine life such as fish, prawns and crabs, have been destroyed. • The demand for fish in 2020 will be at 1.68 billion kilograms (with a projected population of 33.S million).while our demand for seafood is growing, our fish stocks are rapidly dwindling and we are eating juveniles. Aquaculture is only a solution if sustainably managed.