April 21, 2025

 

Farmed fish driving growth in Malaysia's production of aquatic foods, study finds

 

 

A new study found that Malaysia's capture fisheries has stalled while farmed fish and seaweed are now driving growth in the production of aquatic foods.

 

The study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems is authored by scientists from WorldFish, the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies, and the School of Biological Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia, and the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo.

 

According to the study, overfishing, habitat loss, and challenging governance and market environments have pushed capture fisheries to the limit. In 2022, wild-caught fish made up 69% of Malaysia's total fish production but output has remained flat.

 

In contrast, aquaculture which includes farmed fish, shrimp, and seaweed, contributed up to 30% and continues to expand.

 

Co-author Dr. Cristiano Rossignoli, research lead at WorldFish, said Malaysia's aquatic food systems are facing both risk and opportunity. "Aquaculture in Malaysia still faces key sustainability challenges," Dr. Rossignoli said. "However, it holds great potential to meet the growing demand for aquatic foods, especially as wild fisheries stagnate. To unlock this potential, smallholders must be supported to adopt sustainable practices."

 

The study highlights the challenges to fisheries and aquaculture in Malaysia. They face rising costs, limited access to hatcheries, poor cold storage and processing facilities, complex regulatory processes, and environmental vulnerability. Many are being squeezed out of the sector altogether.

 

Co-author Prof. Aileen Tan, director of the Center for Marine and Coastal Studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the findings underscore the urgent need to adapt to shifting dynamics in the sector.

 

"This research provides important evidence that Malaysia's aquatic food sector is undergoing a structural shift," Tan said. "As wild fish production plateaus, it is essential to strengthen support for sustainable aquaculture especially for small-scale producers who are key to the sector's future resilience."

 

Malaysia's fish self-sufficiency rate has dropped from 93% in 2019 to just over 90% in 2022. While domestic demand for seafood remains high, the country is importing more fish than ever before.

 

The study calls for major reforms to expand hatchery capacity, improve rural infrastructure, and support small producers. It also recommends investments in research and development to support innovation, competitiveness, and sectoral resilience.

 

- WorldFish