Malaysia signed an agreement and institutional cooperation contract with Norway on Regulatory Framework for Aquaculture in Malaysia, to contribute to sustainable development of aquaculture in Malaysia.
Norway, which has a leading position globally in the aquaculture industry, will not only help Malaysia develop a regulatory framework for aquaculture farming, but will also provide experts and training for Department of Fisheries (DOF) staff in the field.
The total funding for the project is on a cost-sharing basis, Norway will provide RM3.253mil in funding while Malaysia will contribute RM3.275mil, starting 2012-2015.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar said besides strengthening relations between the two countries, the agreement was a step forward to enhance the development of the local aquaculture industry.
Thus, he said, it would also help reduce the problem of fish supply shortage.
“When we rear fish in cages, it is more assuring in terms of income, whereas now when we go out to sea to fish, we don’t know how much fish we can get daily. “Therefore, we want to encourage more people to rear fish which can help ensure sufficient fish supply in the country,” he said after witnessing the signing ceremony Monday.
Noh said seven experts from Norway would come in October to train DOF staff here, while 20 DOF officers would be sent to Norway for short-term and long-term courses.
He said the DOF would also set up a new division for aquaculture, realising that it was becoming a more important sector not only in the country but also worldwide.
Currently, Malaysia’s aquaculture production is 287,000 tonnes valued at RM2.5bil, while under the National Key Economic Area (NKEA), the production is projected to increase to 790,000 tonnes by 2020 and exports of aquaculture products to be worth RM3.2bil.
