Terengganu To Be Biggest Hub For Barramundi In Asean

KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here today that has the potential to make Terengganu the biggest hub for barramundi in the Asean region, with the potential to export the fish to Europe and the Americas.

The MoU was signed by Terengganu Agrotech Development Corp Sdn Bhd (TADC), a Terengganu government subsidiary, and Cell Aquaculture Ltd of Perth, Australia, and was witnessed by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The project would be developed by TRG Cell Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture subsidiary of the two companies, on a 5.5-hectare marine culture centre in Tanjung Demong, Besut, in November under the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) concept.

TADC Executive Director Ir Adnan Ghazali said the project would be undertaken with technology specially brought in from Australia by Cell Aquaculture, a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange that has developed the RAS and expanded its business to Europe and the Americas.

"We expect the technology to be brought in fully by the middle of December. Under the first phase, we will import the Barramundi fish fry from Australia.

"Six to eight months after that we expect to market the first harvest of the fish to Europe and the Americas as well as several other countries," he told reporters after signing the MoU. Cell Aquaculture was represented by its chairman, Perry Leach, and managing director, Peter Burn.

The first phase of the project is expected to yield 100 tonnes of Barramundi annually and the second phase 600 tonnes annually for export of live fish.

Adnan said the project would provide a boost to the country's aquaculture technology, particularly in Terengganu, and provide jobs for graduates and the local people.

Muhyiddin lauded the move by the Terengganu government, saying aquaculture products had good markets not only locally but also abroad.

Earlier, he had closed the National Farmers, Livestock Breeders and Fishermen's Day celebrations at the Taman Awam Batu Burok here.

He told reporters then that the Federal Government had set the target of making Terengganu a major food producer over the next eight to 10 years.

The ministry and the state government had drawn up an agricultural development plan to realise the objective, he said.

Muhyiddin said the Terengganu Agricultural Development Plan would be implemented soon and would be continued under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015).

He said the private sector would also be encouraged to help make a success of the plan which would involve various sectors, including cultivation of vegetables, fruits and herbs and breeding of goats and dairy cattle as well as fisheries and aquaculture.

-- BERNAMA