Fisheries Dept Launches Three New Aquaculture Practice Codes At MAHA 2026

SERDANG, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) today launched three Good Aquaculture Practice (GAqP) codes for giant freshwater-prawn pond farming, marine-fish pond farming, and freshwater-fish cage farming

The three codes are DOF/SIRIM 8:2025 for pond-based giant freshwater prawn farming, DOF/SIRIM 9:2025 for pond-based marine fish farming and DOF/SIRIM 10:2025 for cage-based freshwater fish farming.

In a statement today, DOF said that with the launch of the three codes developed with SIRIM Bhd, a total of 10 GAqP codes covering various aquaculture systems have been established.

Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the increase in aquaculture production must be accompanied by good practices to ensure the yield is safe, high-quality, and meets market requirements.

"The GAqP codes provide guidance for livestock operations management, including farm management, stock health, biosecurity, and product quality, as well as assisting farmers in managing operations more systematically and reducing risks related to diseases and production," he said.

DOF also launched the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Kit, focusing on prudent antimicrobial use in aquaculture. It serves as reference material to help officers and farmers understand the risks of inappropriate antimicrobial use and the importance of disease prevention through sound stock management and biosecurity.

The department said that this year, 24 key performance indicators (KPIs) related to AMR have been set, with 18 achieved so far. Their implementation follows the One Health approach, connecting human, animal, aquatic life, food, and environmental health.

On certification, Syarikat Bahagia Samudera Sdn Bhd, a seaweed cultivator from Sebatik, Tawau, Sabah, received the myOrganik Certificate for seaweed production. This marks recognition of the operator's compliance with organic production standards, including farm management, stock health, biosecurity, records and traceability, and post-harvest handling.

The statement added that the national aquaculture sector recorded total production of 511,900 tonnes in 2024, comprising 392,400 tonnes from brackish-water and marine aquaculture and 119,500 tonnes from freshwater aquaculture.

This growth highlights the importance of practices prioritising stock health, food safety, and biosecurity management.

DOF said the GAqP codes and the AMR kit were launched at the Laman Agrofood Fisheries, Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), during the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026.

-- BERNAMA