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Malaysia’s Wild Fish Harvest Plateaus as Aquaculture Industry Experiences Rapid Growth, New Report Finds
- A recent study reveals that Malaysia's aquatic food sector is transforming, with capture fisheries plateauing while aquaculture, particularly farmed fish and seaweed, is experiencing rapid growth.
- Capture fisheries are facing challenges such as overexploitation, habitat degradation, and governance issues, leading to stagnation in production, whereas aquaculture now contributes about 30% to Malaysia's total fish production.
- Seaweed farming, a key component of aquaculture, is highlighted for its sustainable practices and economic benefits, offering a promising pathway for aquatic food production in Malaysia.
- Supporting small-scale aquaculture producers is essential to enhance production, reduce ecological footprints, and build resilience in the aquatic food system.
- Challenges in aquaculture include rising input costs, limited access to hatchery stock, and regulatory complexities, along with environmental risks and climate-related impacts.
- Efforts to revitalize fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Malaysia call for expanding hatchery capacities, improving infrastructure, and providing tailored support to small producers.
- The decline in Malaysia's self-sufficiency rate in fish production underscores the need for policy interventions to boost domestic production capacity while ensuring sustainability.
- Investments in research and development are crucial to drive innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in Malaysia's aquatic food sector amid global uncertainties.
- The study emphasizes the importance of balancing growth with conservation, leveraging aquaculture advancements while safeguarding marine ecosystems for sustainable development.
- WorldFish's pivotal role in Malaysia's aquatic food sector evolution is essential, with a focus on science-driven approaches for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.
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