Kajian Bioremediasi Rumpai Laut Merah (Gracilaria Changii) Ke Atas Bahan Buangan Ternakan Ikan Tilapia Nile (Oreochromis Niloticus) Dan Ikan Siakap Asia (Lates Calcarifer)

Kajian yang dijalankan adalah bagi menentukan keupayaan Gracilaria changii (rumpai laut merah) bertindak sebagai agen bioremediasi di dalam kultur ikan tilapia Nile (Oreochromis niloticus) dan ikan siakap Asia (Lates calcarifer). Kajian ini juga dijalankan untuk menilai potensi mewujudkan sistem pengkulturan bersepadu antara ikan dan rumpai laut bagi tujuan mengatasi pencemaran sisa buangan daripada aktiviti akuakultur. Bagi tujuan tersebut, keupayaan G. changii membebaskan oksigen yang diperlukan oleh ikan dan kebolehannya bertindak sebagai penapis NH4+, NO3- dan PO43- hasil bahan kumuhan ikan serta jumlah keperluan oksigen oleh ikan ditentukan. Kebolehan G. changii bertindak sebagai penapis bahan buangan tak organik daripada ikan kemudiannya dibandingkan dengan keupayaan penapis tak organik oleh mikrob dalam Sistem Akuakultur Kitar Semula (RAS). Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa ammonium (NH4+) adalah merupakan sumber N yang lebih digemari oleh G. changii berbanding nitrat (NO3-). Jumlah 50 μM NH4+-N yang dibekalkan setiap tiga hari adalah mencukupi untuk menampung keperluan N untuk 1.0gbb hingga 5.0 gbb G .changii. Kadar Pertumbuhan Spesifik bagi 1.0 gbb G. changii yang diberikan 50 μM NH4+-N adalah yang paling tinggi dengan nilai 2.45 ± 0.78 %h-1 berbanding 1.92 ± 0.44 %h-1 bagi 5.0 gbb G. changii dan 0.52 ± 0.41 %h-1 bagi 20.0gbb G. changii. O. niloticus walau pun dikenali sebagai ikan omnivorous, ia didapati tidak memakan G. changii dan didapati pengambilan oksigen meningkat apabila diberi makanan dan menjadi lebih aktif

AN OVERVIEW OF BUDU PRODUCTION IN KELANTAN FROM HALAL AND POLICY ASPECTS

Budu or fish sauce is a traditional food of the East Coast communities in Peninsular Malaysia that is produced through a fermentation process between 6 to 12 months in the covered containers known as unprocessed budu. Meanwhile, the processed budu is prepared by grounding coarsely unprocessed budu before mixing with tamarind paste, palm sugar, sugar, monosodium glutamate (MSG), food colouring, and then boiled. Once the mixture is filtered, processed budu is cooled, bottled and marketed all over Malaysia. Most of the manufacturers (23) are located in Kelantan and Terengganu. However, based on the recent data, only one brand of budu is halal-certified as compared to other Malaysian fermented fish products, i.e., belacan (243), pekasam (14), and cencaluk (13). The study offers some important insights into the issues that arise in budu production from the halal and policy aspects that may hinder the manufacturers from applying halal certification. The use of qualitative studies is a well-established approach in this study. Five broad themes emerged from the analysis, the low quality of raw materials (anchovies) and lack of awareness and knowledge base in food safety and hygiene practices among the manufacturers and workers are identified as the main factors contributing to scare-mongering against halal certification. In addition, we found shortage of raw materials (anchovies), lack of incentive and specification standards for the quality of budu were the bottleneck of halal application among the budu entrepreneur. Therefore, more outstanding efforts are needed to ensure the involvement and cooperation from the government agencies and regulators and budu manufacturers to help them penetrate the international market. Indeed, a desire is needed to boost the exportation of budu globally following the market demand and opportunities.  &nbsp

A value chain analysis of Malaysia's seaweed industry

A global shortfall in protein supply from capture fisheries has motivated the Malaysian government to revise its aquaculture strategy, focusing on three commodities: seaweed, fish and marine shrimp. However, the performance of the Malaysian aquaculture sector, particularly seaweed production, is poorly documented. This is the first empirical study to undertake a value chain analysis (VCA) of the Malaysian seaweed sector using stakeholder perceptions and secondary data that encompass members of seaweed farming cooperatives (the Semporna Area Farmers’ Association and the governments’ flagship Seaweed Cluster Project). Fieldwork was conducted between April and June 2015 among seaweed stakeholders involved in the value chain using a mixed methods approach—in-depth interviews with key informants, focus group discussions, household surveys, personal observation and secondary data. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from both upstream (seaweed farming, marketing structure and the Malaysian Good Aquaculture Practices [MyGAP] certification programme) and downstream (seaweed processing) activities involving farmers, intermediaries/middlemen (buyers), processors and officials. Kappaphycus spp. was sold in two forms: (1) dried seaweed to be used as raw materials in carrageenan processing (approximately 90% of total harvest) and (2) fresh seaweed to be used as a source of seedlings (approximately 10% of total harvest). The value chain ended with the carrageenan form, which is exported to international markets. The price of dried seaweed varied according to a combination of seaweed quality, the strength of farmer’s relationships with intermediaries and processors and in response to demand from the carrageenan industry. The prices obtained by Malaysian farmers for dried seaweed and carrageenan remained low, US$0.60 and US$ 4.43 per kg, respectively, despite efforts by the government to enhance the value chain by imposing seaweed standards (via MyGAP) for farm management, dried seaweed and semi-refined carrageenan. The VCA was a useful tool to identify and map the market, with the results providing a better understanding of the seaweed sector, which could be helpful in supporting further aquaculture development in Malaysia

Review: Potential of Using Seaweed Silage Inoculated with Lactic Acid Bacteria and Its Impact Towards Sustainable Animal Feed

Since ancient times, seaweed has been used to supplement animal feed in coastal areas. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for seaweed as an animal feed. Effective preservation methods are required because of annual variations in seaweed availability and biochemical composition. Ensiling could be an effective method to preserve seaweeds for animal feed applications. Using lactic acid bacteria is a substitute biological technique for keeping and restoring the usual physiological state of the animal and increasing efficiency. The aim of this review is the potential of using lactic acid bacteria as an inoculant for seaweed silage for the development of sustainable animal feed. According to the microbiological point of view, the results in this area are weak, and limited information is available. Due to its high nutritional content, seaweed silage is a promising animal feed ingredient and is getting acceptance as an alternative animal feed. Therefore, seaweeds contain valuable metabolites such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phlorotannins, carrageenan, alginate pigments, agar, and minerals (manganese, iodine, calcium, iron, selenium, sodium, zinc) are used as a natural antibiotic source in animal feed. In conclusion, increasing the use of effective lactic acid bacteria as an inoculant in animal feed can make the livestock sector more productive, safer, and friendly to humans and the environment, contributing to animal feed\u27s long-term development

Is a cooperative approach to seaweed farming effectual? An analysis of the seaweed cluster project (SCP), Malaysia

Seaweed (Kappaphycus spp.) farming has been practised in Malaysia since the late 1970s following government policy incentives (training and farming inputs). However, numerous governance, economic, environmental, technological and sociocultural challenges have limited the industry from achieving its full potential. The Seaweed Cluster Project (SCP) was introduced in 2012 to address some of these challenges. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the SCP in delivering its central objectives of increasing seaweed production, optimising the farming area, improving seaweed quality and farming efficiency, raising farmers’ income, and reducing the environmental impact of seaweed farming. Community and industry perceptions of the SCP were obtained from seven communities using a mixed-methods approach based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, observation and secondary data. Views on the SCP outcomes were generally negative, including low take-up rates by indigenous people, poor stakeholder participation in decision-making, limited acceptance of new technologies, economic vulnerability, a complex marketing system, and low social cohesion of seaweed farming communities. Positive perceptions included recognition that the SCP confers high social status upon a community, reduces operating costs, and facilitates the production of certified seaweed. The SCP’s problems are linked to poor multi-level governance, weak market mechanisms and unintegrated community development. The study concludes with five recommendations to improve the SCP: promote the participation of indigenous people; legalise existing migrant farmers; strengthen local seaweed cooperative organisations; provide entrepreneurship skills to farmers; and fully integrate stakeholders into decision-making

Evaluation of mechanical and thermal properties of Carrageenan/Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Hard Capsule

The inherent source of gelatin used for commercial hard capsules causes a surging demand on vegetarian capsules. In this work, carrageenan is utilized in preparing hard capsules to meet consumer preferences. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was incorporated as a reinforcing agent to improve the low mechanical properties of hard capsules made of carrageenan. HPMC concentration was manipulated from 0.2 w/v% to 1.0 w/v% in the carrageenan matrix. Increasing concentration of HPMC exerts significant effects on the tensile strength and elongation at break, with an improvement of 59.1% and 46.9%, respectively, at the optimized HPMC concentration of 0.8 w/v%. The loop strength of the capsule is also increased by 56.4% with decreasing moisture content. A downfield movement around 3.20 ppm of the carrageenan proton to 3.33 ppm in 1H-NMR spectrum suggests the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between carrageenan and HPMC, which correlates to the results of FTIR and zeta potential. The glass transition of the film is increased from 37.8°C to 65.3°C, showing an upgrade in thermal stability. The film possesses a major mass loss with an activation energy of 64.7 kJ/mol with an increment of 43.4% compared to the control carrageenan. These findings support the conclusion that HPMC enhanced the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the carrageenan film, and the comprehensive analysis of the molecular interaction and decomposition kinetics subsequently may expand the application fields of the carrageenanHPMC hard capsule as an alternative to gelatin in the future

Review: Potential of using lactic acid bacteria as inoculant for seaweed silage towards sustainable aquaculture

Aquaculture is an essential sector in Malaysian fisheries and plays a significant role in the national economy. Organic pollution, opportunistic microorganisms in aquaculture farms, and international contamination of feed by mycotoxigenic fungi are serious issues. Lactic acid bacteria are a biological method for maintaining and restoring the normal physiological state and increasing productivity. However, research into the effects of inoculated seaweed silage with lactic acid bacteria inoculants is limited and has been conducted under various experimental conditions. The aim of this review is the potential of using lactic acid bacteria as an inoculant for seaweed silage for the development of sustainable aquaculture. According to the microbiological point of view, the results in this area are weak, and limited information is available. Due to its high nutritional content, seaweed silage is a promising feed ingredient and is gaining popularity as an alternative feed. Seaweeds contain valuable metabolites such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phlorotannins, carrageenan, alginate pigments, agar, and minerals (manganese, iodine, calcium, iron, selenium, sodium, zinc) are natural antibiotic source in aquaculture feed. In conclusion, increasing the use of effective lactic acid bacteria as an inoculant in aquaculture feed can make the aquacultural sector more productive, safer, and friendly to human and environment then contributing to the long-term development of aquaculture

WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies

Sustainably managed wild fisheries support food and nutritional security, livelihoods, and cultures (1). Harmful fisheries subsidies—government payments that incentivize overcapacity and lead to overfishing—undermine these benefits yet are increasing globally (2). World Trade Organization (WTO) members have a unique opportunity at their ministerial meeting in November to reach an agreement that eliminates harmful subsidies (3). We—a group of scientists spanning 46 countries and 6 continents—urge the WTO to make this commitment..