DOF Builds 74 Artificial Reefs, Generates Over RM84,000 In Fish Biomass Revenue

PUTRAJAYA, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) says it has built 74 artificial reefs in six states throughout 2024, which not only conserves marine biodiversity but also successfully generates fish biomass with the highest market value, reaching RM84,759.

In a statement issued to mark World Conservation Day 2025, the DOF said the artificial reefs with a total allocation of RM2.4 million have been built in Kedah, Perak, Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. The locations include strategic areas such as Pulau Payar, Pulau Kapas, Pulau Redang, Pulau Dodol and Pulau Seri Buat.

Overall, 205 artificial reef sites have been established to date, serving as fish breeding habitats and protecting marine biodiversity. The study results show that each reef location contributes between 129 and 6,047 kilogrammes of fish biomass," according to the statement.

The DOF said the initiative is part of its ongoing conservation programme, which includes the restoration of marine and terrestrial habitats, the protection of aquatic species, and the sustainable management of resources to ensure the sustainability of the country's fisheries ecosystem.

In terms of marine species conservation, particularly sea turtles, the DOF recorded a total of 7,724 sea turtle landings nationwide as of this month, with 565,507 eggs collected for conservation purposes and controlled incubation.

The DOF said that through these conservation efforts, a total of 430,568 turtle hatchlings were successfully released into their natural habitat, including hatchlings from previous years' incubation.

Regarding freshwater fish resource conservation efforts, the DOF announced that it has established 13 freshwater fish sanctuaries in Peninsular Malaysia, which are home to various native local fish species such as kelah, tengas, lampam sungai and giant river prawns. Additionally, seven more new sanctuaries are being implemented for the period from 2025 to 2026.

Additionally, to support the recovery of native fish populations in public waters, the DOF implemented a phased fish fry release programme, involving the release of 49.6 million fish fry from 2021 to 2025.

"This programme involves an allocation of RM2.38 million and includes species such as kelah, temoleh, baung sungai, puyu, lampam sungai, sebarau, terbol and udang galah," said the statement.

According to the DOF, efforts did not stop there, but were continued with the implementation of Fisheries Conservation Zones (ZKP) covering coastal areas from zero to one nautical mile from the coastline, including important habitats such as mangrove swamps, coral reefs, seagrass beds and mudflats, which serve as breeding and protection areas for marine species such as fish, sea turtles, shellfish, dugongs and seahorses.

Since 2014, ZKP has been implemented in Kedah, Perak and Selangor, covering an area of 1,734 square kilometres (sq km). The DOF estimates that if ZKP is expanded to other states in Peninsular Malaysia, the conservation area could potentially increase to 4,351 sq km.

According to the DOF, it will continue to strengthen the implementation of data-driven and field-experience-based conservation programmes, in strategic collaboration with various parties including government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), fishing communities and the private sector, in line with the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030, National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022-2030, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14: Life Below Water).

-- BERNAMA