Malaysia to Collaborate with Japan on Aquaculture

UMS Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) Director, Dr Saleem Mustafa said, the seminar acts as a platform for government departments and academicians to exchange knowledge about the marine ecosystem and development of aquatic food resources through sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, reports DailyExpress.

The three-day event was launched by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, at the Promenade Hotel.

He was represented by Assistant Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin.

Dr Saleem said the event started as an annual seminar series in 2003 named 'Annual Seminar on Marine Science and Aquaculture', focusing on contemporary issues and efforts to address them.

"Due to increasing number of participants and diverse backgrounds they come from, there was a need to bring the broader issues of global importance into the scope of discussion.

"Thus the annual seminar was transformed into an international event," he said, adding that the theme this year is 'Sustainable Development and Management of Aquatic Resources in a Changing Climate'.

Towards this end, he thanked the National Oceanography Directorate under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for sponsoring the event as well as welcomed the State Fisheries Department who recently joined the seminar.

Meanwhile, Mr Masidi expressed hope that the seminar would examine the pressure of climate change on the marine ecosystem and holistically address the challenges facing the production and supply of safe seafood to society.

He acknowledged the rapid attention growth towards environmental conservation in Malaysia, especially Sabah due to its vast coastline, hence the interest in climate change effects on the marine ecosystem is understandable.

"As a minister dealing with three interrelated matters - tourism, culture and environment, I understand that environment is important for culture and tourism to flourish.

"Of course, societies need to adapt to the changing environment, and international seminars such as this one are necessary to examine all the pertinent issues related to environment in terms of security and well-being of human society.

"Ignorance of environmental issues at global level in the past has created an enormous damage that science is discovering today, and establishing the interconnectedness of the world's ecosystems and human activities.

"I intend to support the development of new perspectives of socio-ecological systems that respond to climate as well as social and economic stresses," he said.

At the event, BMRI also launched their newsletter called 'Surge' that aims to provide information on marine resources to all sections of society.