(MY) aquaculture project to breed tilapia

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RM5m hatchery in Tasik Kenyir - New Straits Times

Rosli Zakaria

 

KUALA BERANG, Dec 13:

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A massive aquaculture project to breed red tilapia (oreocromis

mossambica) commercially in a 2,800-hectare site in Tasik Kenyir has

begun.

The Government plans to build a RM5 million hatchery in the area to

produce fry.

 

The site, near Sungai Como, was chosen after a year-long research by

the Fisheries Department which showed that the water has a good supply

of zooplankton, essential for the growth of fry.

 

The new aquaculture area is part of efforts to relocate all

aquaculture projects in Tasik Kenyir in one zone for better

supervision and management.

 

There was a small-scale aquaculture project in Tasik Kenyir near the

main jetty at Pengkalan Gawi but the department found that the

mortality rate of the fish bred in cages there was high.

 

Factors such as warm surface water due to it being in an unsheltered

area and the lack of zooplankton, were among the causes.

 

" Sungai Como is natural and perfect for aquaculture, " Razali Lajis,

director of the State Fisheries Department told the New Straits Times

today.

 

The new area is fed by several rivers and sheltered by hills, thus

providing a perfect environment for aquaculture and research on

indigenous species in the lake.

 

Razali said construction of the access road from Sungai Como to

Kampung Tapah should be completed by early next year.

 

He said the hatchery would produce tilapia, kelah (Malayan mahseer)

and baung (catfish) fry.

 

" Kelah and baung fry will be raised in cages and later released into

Sungai Petang which has been gazetted as a no-fishing zone.

 

" We want to re-stock the lake with these exotic fish.

 

" We will be inviting entrepreneurs and select a group from the

hardcore poor to participate in rearing red tilapia. But for kelah and

baung, we will manage, " added Razali.