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Contents Acknowledgement i

Foreword by the Director of AKUATROP ii

AKUATROP Organization Structure iii

Introduction 1

Research 1

High-end equipments at AKUATROP 2

Marine Hatchery 3 Re-circulating Aquaculture System Unit (RAS) 3 Crustacean Unit 4 Marine Ornamental Unit 4 Freshwater Hatchery 5

Activities in 2009

New AKUATROP Infrastructure under Construction 6 Research Activities in 2009 7 Aquatic Organism Health 7 Breeding Technology 10 Aquaculture Biotechnology 21 Live Feed Culture 22 Nutrition 23 Ecological Studies 23 Physiological Studies 24 Linkages and Collaboration 25 AKUATROP Activities 26 Other Activities 31 Promotion, Publicity, Exhibitions and Visitation 37 Appendix 1: Our Strength 41 Appendix 2: Research Funding 42 Appendix 3: Research Activities in 2009 43 Appendix 4: Other Responsibilities and Duties 44 Appendix 5: Postgraduate Students 2008 47 Appendix 6: Human Resources Development 56 Appendix 7: Awards and Achievements 62 Appendix 8: Publications and Speech 65

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Acknowledgement

All the staffs of AAKKUUAATTRROOPP is involved in the preparation of this annual report.

1st row (from right) : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abol Munafi Ambok Bolong, Norainy Mohd Husin, Dr. Safiah Jasmani,

Dr. Zaleha Kassim, Wan Zawati Wan Jaafar, Prof. Dr. Faizah Mohd. Shaharom, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anuar Hassan, Dr. Mhd Ikhwanuddin @ Polity Abdullah, Assoc. Prof. Aizam Zainal Abidin.

2nd

row (from right) : Mohd Shafiq Mohd Razak, Muhammad Haniff Mohd Yusoff, Mohd Shukri Yusof, Maslina Masor, Wan Anilawati Wan Ngah, Nurul Hayati Ismail, Fara Nor Asmira Jastan, Nor Ashikin Nawawi, Noor Zuliana Mohd Nor, Ummi Helwariena Che Juhan.

3rd

row (from right) : Ihwan Hj. Zakariah, Azmie Ghazali, Muhamad Shukri Shafie, Abdul Halim Safi, Mohd Zulkarami Endut, Suhairi Mazelan, Mohd Sabri Muda, Gusti Afiz Gusti Ruslan Noor, Mohd Zaidi Ibrahim.

Not in picture : Farizan Abdullah, Wahidah bt. Wahab, Nor Fadliyah Awang, Nor Irina Sairah Mainong and Liew Hon Jung.

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Foreword by the Director of AKUATROP

Prof. Dr. Faizah Shaharom AKUATROP has grown significantly since its establishment in 2004. Our staff profile has increased to 42 and enrollment of post graduate students has increased to 73 in 2009. AKUATROP has conducted various research activities and services particularly public services. Our research fund has increased from just RM 520,775 in 2006 to RM 2,979,646 in 2009 despite the increasingly competitive environment for fisheries and aquaculture. This is a significant indicator on confidence for success in projects carried out by AKUATROP. Our linkage establishment with private companies also has achieved in producing commercial products. For KPI, AKUATROP has successfully achieved 100% points. AKUATROP achievements were fully recognized by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu evidenced by AKUATROP researcher, Dr. Zaleha Kassim, being awarded the Best Researcher of the Year (Science and Technology). In addition, we have successfully held an AKUATROP Open Day for the public to have an idea of research and activities conducted by in AKUATROP staff. Our vision is to place AKUATROP on the centre stage of research excellence in aquaculture in Malaysia, as well as to enhance its existence and reputation internationally. To accomplish the above objectives, AKUATROP is promoting international collaborative research with research institutions in Asia, Europe and Canada and inviting international scientists and researchers every year to come to AKUATROP to share their expertise via technology and knowledge transfers during seminars and workshop organized by AKUATROP.

All the research and public services activities in 2009 of AKUATROP are documented in this fourth annual report. We sincerely hope that readers will find our activities in this booklet interesting and provide useful information. I thank our staff for their hard work throughout the year.

Prof. Dr. Faizah Shaharom Director,

Institute of Tropical Aquaculture AKUATROP

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Introduction AKUATROP was established in 2004 in line with the government aspiration to raise Aquaculture Production in Malaysia from 200,000 metric tonnes in 2004, to 600,000 metric tonnes by 2010. It is now striving to be recognized as one of the 21 centres of aquaculture excellence in the world. It is also working towards achieving the vision and mission of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). Aquaculture is now one of the niche areas at UMT and AKUATROP has been tasked with raising the profile of aquaculture research at UMT and Malaysia. Due to that AKUATROP focused their research more towards the development of optimization of breeding techniques and health management protocol for important cultured fish species.

Research AKUATROP is intensively conducting various aquaculture research on marine ornamental fish, mahseer, marble goby, horseshoe crab, aquaponic, crab, aquatic parasites, marine tilapia and giant prawn. Research projects are funded by various institutions such as Sciencef fund (Ministry of Agriculture), FRGS, E-science, NOD-Mosti, ABI-Mosti and Technofund. A total of RM 2,979,646.68 has been granted to AKUATROP lecturers, namely Prof. Dr. Faizah Shaharom, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anuar Hassan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abol Munafi Ambok Bolong, Assoc. Prof. Aizam Zainal Abidin, Dr. Zaleha Kassim and Dr. Mhd. Ikhwanuddin Polity @ Abdullah.

Grants Percentage

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High-end equipments at AKUATROP

In order to boost its image as Center of Excellence in Aquaculture, AKUATROP has invested in some high end research equipments such as TM-100 Table Top (SEM), Eclipse 80i Advanced Research Microscope, Double Beam UV VIS Spectrophotometer, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Measuring Microscope.

AKUATROP has established smart partnership with Institute of Marine Biotechnology whereby most of its biotech equipments are placed at IMB. The research facilities are open to other researchers at UMT. Research on breeding technology for freshwater and marine organisms are conducted in Marine Hatchery and Fresh water Hatchery. AKUATROP has also set up a Kelah Hatchery solely dedicated to Kelah (Tor tambroides) research.

TM-1000 Tabletop Microscope (SEM)

Measuring Microscope

Eclipse 80i Advanced Research Microscope Carl Zeiss Compound Microscope fitted with Digital Camera

Double Beam UV VIS Spectrophotometer High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

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Marine Hatchery AKUATROP’s Marine Hatchery is located at the back of AKUATROP main office. This marine hatchery is fully equipped with continuous seawater supply, aeration system, various culture tanks of multiple sizes, aquariums, generator set back-up system and other hatchery facilities. Marine Hatchery is divided into three units and they are:

AKUATROP Marine Hatchery is located near to cabin laboratory and earthen pond.

Re-circulating Aquaculture System Unit (RAS) This unit consists of a few units of re-circulating systems to culture grouper and other species. It is equipped with protein skimmer system, UV light, aeration system, water supply (marine and freshwater), and fiber tanks for culture.

Re-circulating Aquaculture System Unit (RAS) is equipped with protein skimmer and UV light in order to maintain good quality recirculated water.

Crustacean Unit Crustacean Unit was built in order to fulfill the demand of AKUATROP’s expanding research area. A semi-closed hatchery was built equipped with more than 20 culture tanks, sand filtration system, water supplies and blower for continuous aeration.

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Crustacean Unit was built to fulfill the demand of crustacean research.

Marine Ornamental Unit There are two marine ornamental units in AKUATROP Hatchery. The two units are used for culturing various marine ornamental organisms for research purposes. Some of the species cultured in these units are anemone, clown fish of various species and corals. The units are fully equipped with glass aquariums, re-circulating water system, water supply, freezer, aeration, and other facilities.

False clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and tomato clown fish (Amphiprion frenatus) were successfully bred in captivity at Marine Ornamental Unit.

Freshwater Hatchery This hatchery is also known as Malaysian Mahseer Hatchery or Kelah Hatchery which is located near the Netloft Unit. It was built with 9 concrete tanks for broodstocks culture which are equipped with recirculating water system, UV light and two sand filtration systems to ensure clean water supply. The hatchery has eight units of raceways for nursing the Malaysian Mahseer larvae, six units of fiberglass tanks, grower concrete tanks with sand filtration system, UV light and a number of tanks for quarantine and sampling activity. Two chiller units for cold water supply, water supply tanks, two blower units for continuous aeration and one unit of generator has been installed as a backup system. In order to accommodate more research, AKUATROP is now building a nursing area which

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will be equipped with nursing tanks, filtration system, water supply, aeration supply and other necessary facilities.

Kelah Broodstock Management Unit is equipped with a 50 ton round concrete tank with recirculating water–chilling system to ensure the water temperature is equivalent to the cool water of kelah’s natural ecosystem.

Kelah larvae tank or Grow-out Unit is equipped with eight units of raceways for nursing the Malaysian Mahseer larvae.

In mid 2010, the present marine hatchery will be demolished to make way for a brand new marine hatchery. In the meantime all research activities will be conducted at a temporary hatchery near FST building.

Temporary marine hatchery for AKUATROP under construction.

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New AKUATROP Infrastructure under Construction New buildings for AKUATROP were approved in 2007 and construction work was started in December 2008 and will be completed in 2010. The 3 storey administrative and laboratory building will house administrative office which consists of 45 rooms including main office, Director and Deputy Director rooms, lecturer, science officer and assistant registrar rooms, assistant science officer area and waiting room. This building also will accommodate 23 customized and fully equipped laboratories to cater research in aquaculture. The laboratories consist of Aquaculture Engineering Laboratory, Aquaculture Biotechnology Laboratory, Aquatic Organism Health Laboratory, Nutrition Laboratory, Freshwater and Marine Seed Production, Breeding and Fish Culture Laboratory, Algae and Plankton Culture Laboratory as well as Fish Health and Quarantine Laboratory. AKUATROP will also have new freshwater and marine hatcheries to cater research for researchers and students.

Future administrative and laboratory building for INOS and AKUATROP under construction.