A benchmarking activity on the status of the aquaculture and fisheries industries of Malaysia and Singapore was conducted by the FishMI Project Team of BIOMECH last April 2-9, 2018.
The seven-day activity was headed by Dr. Rossana Marie C. Amongo (project leader) along with Dr. Maria Victoria L. Larona (study leader), Asst. Prof. Mark Keylord S. Onal (study leader) and Engr. Adrian A. Borja (project staff).
The list of visited offices includes the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries, Marine Fishery Resource Development Management Division of SEAFDEC, University Putra Malaysia, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.
Malaysia is known to be one of the largest producers of fish in the ASEAN region, while Singapore is a major processor and transit point of fish products.
The data gathered from the various offices and other site visits will be used to determine best practices on the utilization of fisheries mechanization technologies (FMTs) for the policy formulation of the standard procedure for fishery mechanization index (FishMI)
FishMI Project is a DA-PCAF funded project.
FishMI Team was welcomed warmly by the faculty of Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering of the Universiti Putra Malaysia headed by Dr. Siti Khairunniza bt. Bejo (5th from left) and Department of Aquaculture headed by Dr. Yuzine Esa (2nd from right). The meeting discussed the research thrusts of UPM with regards to fisheries mechanization.
A fruitful meeting with the Marine Fisheries Resource Development Management Division of Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center in Chendering, Kuala Terengganu. The FishMI Team traversed the Malaysian Peninsula – more than 400km – overnight to meet Raja Bidin Raja Hassan, MFRDMD Chief, and other officials of MFRDMD. The meeting focused on the status of fisheries and fisheries research in Malaysia and the ASEAN Region.
A trading activity at Chendering Fishport. Dr Amongo interviewing fishport personnel as they prepare their mackerel catch for transport.