FCFS-R5-067: Management of Knowledge Transfer Programme on Good Aquaculture Practices to Seabass Cage Culture Farmers in Tumpat, Kelantan

Seabass brackish water cage culture is a very
profitable and challenging enterprise. However, the
main problem of the culture is high mortality of fish
due to factors such as improper management, water
quality, environmental and diseases. The fish farming
community in Laguna Sri Tujuh, Tumpat, Kelantan,
has been continuously facing poor production of
seabass due to high mortality of fish (fish kill) and
poor aquaculture practices among fish farmers since
the start of the cage culture in 2003. Knowledge
transfer programme on good aquaculture practices
(GAP) was initiated and undertaken by a group of
researchers from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
(UMK) in January, 2016. Knowledge on GAP was
transferred to the community through onsite training
by using the Department of Fisheries (DOF) Malaysia
seabass cage culture cluster project site as a model for
this community. Guidance on water quality monitoring
and methods on improving water quality were
demonstrated. Important records such as daily
mortality rate, feed consumption, fish stocks, and
water physical properties were established. The
farmers were taught on proper way of grading fish,
feed and feeding management, proper waste disposal,
prudent use of drugs, and use of immune enhancers as
preventive medicine. In addition, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, UMK also provides fish disease
diagnostic services to the fish farmers. It is envisage
that the seabass cage culture farmers who participated
in this programme will be able to improve their
production and raised their income by reducing fish
mortality. The programme also aims to strengthen
collaboration among fish farming community, DOF’s
authority and researchers of UMK in promoting GAP
for sustainable and profitable aquaculture. The
programme will also produce a competent graduate
intern with knowledge and technical skills in the
brackish water cage culture, enhancing her
employability in the aquaculture sector