AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

WORLD AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

ASIAN REGION AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

ASEAN REGION AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

MALAYSIA AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION

In 1990, production from aquaculture was 52 302 tonnes. By 1994, production had doubled to 114 114 tonnes. In 2003, aquaculture production was at 194 139 tonnes at a value of USD 308 million - about 20 percent of the total value of the fisheries production in Malaysia. Brackish water species accounted for more than 70 percent of the total aquaculture production in terms of value and quantity. Of these, blood cockles recorded the highest production, followed by marine shrimp and other freshwater species, such as tilapia, carps and catfish, as well as marine fish. Cockles account for almost 50 percent of the total brackish water aquaculture production, and about 37 percent of the annual aquaculture production. However, marine shrimp accounted for the highest value of production, with about 65 percent of the total value of brackish water aquaculture production, and 52 percent of the total value of aquaculture production in 2003. Marine and brackish water aquaculture production recorded an increase of more than 20 percent in comparison to production in 2002. Freshwater aquaculture production, however, only recorded an increase of about 7 percent in comparison with production in 2002.

The graph below shows total aquaculture production in Malaysia according to FAO statistics:

Chart 

In 2007 aquaculture production reached 178 239 tonnes (208 239 tonnes including aquatic plants). The sector has long been identified as having the most potential for further development.

Among the various culture systems, the traditional culture of cockle on coastal mudflats on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia has dominated, with cockle landings amounting to more than half the total aquaculture production (excluding seaweeds) until 1999. But, its share in total aquaculture production declined from 42 percent in 2000 to 28 percent in 2007. This was caused by a decrease in production in conjunction with a growth in production of most other species. In 2007, cockle production was 49,620 tonnes, followed by aquatic plants (30,000 tonnes), tilapia (26,409 tonnes), banana prawn (23,738 tonnes), Clarias catfish (21,892 tonnes) and giant tiger prawn (11,435 tonnes).

Mud flat culture (of cockles) is the most common production method, followed by freshwater pond culture, brackishwater pond culture, long-line culture of seaweed, and several other minor culture systems including marine cage culture of fish, raft culture of mussel and oyster, mining pool culture of freshwater fishes, freshwater cage culture, and tank culture of freshwater fishes - in that order. Shrimp culture in brackishwater pond contributes most in terms of value. The average unit price for marine shrimps is high, inter alia, because a significant portion is exported. Lately, the longline culture of seaweed, practised only in Sabah and negligible during several decades, has been gaining rapidly in importance.