The Malaysian fisheries operating in the Straits of Malacca have been producing over half of the total catches in the whole country every year. Catches in recent years from the Straits of Malacca range from 402,000 to 529,000 metric tons and accounted for from 43% to 54% of the total catches in Malaysia.

The waters in the Straits of Malacca, therefore, can be considered as very important area for the Malaysian capture fisheries.

Objectives

The major objectives of the Fisheries Resources Research Group are as follows;

• To study the biological, morphological and ecological features of targeted fish species in the Straits of Malacca;

• To review and analyse the available fisheries statistics and information relating to the major economically important species in the Straits, and

• To extract the fisheries management measures on the targeted fish species in the Straits of Malacca based on the results from above mentioned subjects.

Activities

Initially, the Research Group has selected hardtail scad or cincaru, for the studies on the biological, morphological and ecological features. Monthly sampling of the hardtail scad is being conducted at Sekinchan fishing village in the State of Selangor. With regards to reviewing and analysing the available data, the Group has been collecting and organizing the fisheries statistics and information from the various sources followed by analyses of these statistics and information to clearly determine the status of various fisheries in the Straits of Malacca. These activities will be useful for extraction of the fisheries management measures in the Straits of Malacca. The Group also is doing compilation of the Catalogue of Major Fish Species in the Straits of Malacca as a database on fisheries.

Expected Output

The Group will provide the following topics;

1. Two decades catch trend and situation of fisheries operating in the Straits of Malacca,

2. Biological information and stock availability of hardtail scad,

3. Fisheries status and MSY of hardtail scad in the Straits of Malacca,

4. Identification of management measures of hardtail scad in the Straits, and

5. Major fish catalogue of the Straits.

Researcher

Dr. Mustafa Kamal Abdul Satar

Malacca Straits Research and Development Centre (MASDEC)

Putra Environmental Laboratory

Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, UPM Serdang,

Selangor, Malaysia.