Seafood should be viewed as the source of food to meet the ever increasing food demand in the future, an official of the Asian Pacific Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society said here on Wednesday.
Roy Palmer, president-elect of the chapter, made this remark at the Asian-Pacific Aquaculture (APA) 2009 and Malaysian International Seafood Exposition (MISE) 2009 here.
Palmer said that oceans and waterways produced the world's most traded food commodity, which was essentially the seafood.
However, he said that no one seemed to talk about the oceans of waterways when it came to finding ways to meet the food demand of the world population estimated to be 9 billion by 2050.
Stressing that the world needed 70 percent more food than it needed now, Palmer said the
aquaculture's potential was evidenced by the wild caught fishing at its maximum.
Palmer said that aquaculture was producing about 50 percent of the world's seafood and the region of Asia-Pacific dominated the production with nearly 90 percent in terms of quantity and just under 80 percent in terms of value.
The APA 2009, organized by World Aquaculture Society, Malaysian Fisheries Society and University Putra Malaysia, has attracted over 1,330 participants from more than 50 countries.
The event from Nov. 3 to 6 will feature 20 sessions ranging aspects in production,breeding and genetics, nutrition and health for some of the marine creatures.
Held in conjunction with the APA 2009 is the MISE 2009, showcasing the seafood industry in Malaysia that is now being transformed into a sustainable industry with food safety and quality foremost considerations.
The Malaysian government has opted to rely on aquaculture to meet the country's increasing demand for food fish, a Malaysian official said here on Wednesday.
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin made this remark when delivering his
opening address at the Asian-Pacific Aquaculture (APA) 2009 and Malaysian InternationalSeafood Exposition (MISE) 2009 here.
Muyiddin said the total demand for food fish in Malaysia was expected to increase from
1.3 million tons in 2008 to 1.7 million tons in 2015, with the extra requirement expected to be
met by aquaculture production.
He also said the country would be developing its aquarium fish and seaweed industries.
"Our strategies for moving forward are to develop more sustainably managed aquaculture
zones for private sector investment in the value chain from hatchery, grow out, processing and marketing," said Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin said assistance in the form of tax incentives as well as research and development would be provided to help private sector grow in the field.
Touching on production and sustainability issues, Muhyiddin said the utilization of land
and water bodies for aquaculture development over the last few years had led to ecological
degradation.
Therefore, he stressed that a more effective system of regulation needed to be enforced to
sustain the development of the sector.
Muhyiddin also called for local products to meet the stringent international standards of
food safety and quality of food so that the country could penetrate the world market.
The APA 2009, organized by World Aquaculture Society, Malaysian Fisheries Society and University Putra Malaysia, has attracted over 1,330 participants from more than 50 countries.
The event from Nov. 3 to 6 will feature 20 sessions ranging aspects in production,breeding and genetics, nutrition and health for some of the marine creatures.
Held in conjunction with the APA 2009 is the MISE 2009, showcasing the seafood industry in Malaysia that is now being transformed into a sustainable industry with food safety and quality foremost considerations.