Guest guest Posted December 20, 2005 Report Share Posted December 20, 2005 Sunday December 18, 2005 - The Star Fishes fast becoming popular pets BY MARSHA TAN JOHOR BARU: One of the reasons why ornamental fish were becoming more popular, especially with urbanites, is due to the belief that they can help reduce stress. Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) director-general Haron A. Rahim said they were also in high demand as they made easy pets. " In certain urban areas, dogs and cats are not allowed, so people keep ornamental fish as pets, " he said yesterday after launching the Ornamental Fish and Pets Seminar here. Fisheries Department figures from 2003, he added, showed there were 420 ornamental fish breeders in the country who produced 428 million fishes worth RM98mil. Of the total, more than 77%, or over 300 breeders, were from Johor. According to Haron, exports went up from RM17mil in 1995 to RM70mil last year. In 2003, there were 420 ornamental fish breeders in the country, who in total produced 428 million fishes worth RM98mil. The fish were mainly exported to Singapore (26%), Japan (21%), Hong Kong (10%), Britain, Italy and the United States (5% each), while the rest were for the domestic market. With ornamental fish gaining popularity, he said, Fama hoped to achieve an export volume of 800 million fishes worth RM190mil by 2010. Popular species, he added, included arowanas, goldfish, kois, tetras, cyclids and guppies. He said the import of ornamental fish had also shown an increase, from RM10mil in 1995 to RM14mil last year, with fishes coming in mainly from Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, China and Japan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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