Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI), remains committed to enhancing the income of local communities by organizing the Coastal Aquaculture Farming Course for the Kudat District Community recently.
According to a statement from BMRI, the program is part of an initiative under the Higher Education Centre of Excellence (HICoE), which was awarded to IPMB by the Ministry of Higher Education in 2024.
“The one-day course, organized by BMRI’s Aquaculture Partners in close collaboration with the Sabah Fisheries Department, successfully attracted 35 participants from Kudat, Kota Marudu, and Pitas.
“This course aims to expose the communities around Kudat to the importance and various aquaculture activities that can be implemented along coastal areas.
“These activities not only provide opportunities to increase the local community’s income but also have the potential to become a primary or supplementary source of income to improve family livelihoods,” the statement said.
IPMB also noted that the course enabled participants to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by farmers and fishermen and explore more sustainable and effective approaches to improving their socioeconomic well-being.
“This program also supports the research titled ‘Socio-Economics: Assessing the Impact of Aquaculture Technology Transfer on Communities,’ conducted by BMRI to analyze the impact of aquaculture technology transfer in improving the lives of coastal communities.
“It is hoped that this initiative will empower the skills and knowledge of local communities in aquaculture and provide training opportunities relevant to current needs.
“BMRI, in particular, and UMS, in general, remain steadfast in strengthening education and research in Sabah by providing strong support to local communities, especially in efforts to improve their quality of life through more innovative and sustainable approaches,” the statement added.
In related developments, besides the course, BMRI has implemented various programs throughout the year aimed at advancing the skills and knowledge of participants, particularly in the aquaculture industry.
These include Basic Aquaculture Management, Characterization and Immunology Profiling of Fish Blood, and Basic Fish Parasite Identification.
“With an emphasis on more efficient, sustainable, and competitive aquaculture technologies, BMRI is committed to addressing challenges in the fisheries industry and enhancing the global competitiveness of local aquaculture products.
“Through continuous innovation in education and research, IPMB hopes to generate more initiatives and breakthroughs that benefit both communities and the aquaculture industry as a whole.
“This marks a crucial step toward achieving more sustainable and resilient development in Malaysia’s fisheries sector.”
IPMB was recognized as a HICoE in 2024 for its outstanding achievements in national research and higher education, acknowledging its efforts in aquaculture research and development, particularly involving hybrid groupers and mameng fish.
