Malaysia faces challenges in ensuring long-term food security due to rising populations, depleting fish stocks, and increasing protein demand. Bivalve aquaculture offers a promising solution, as these filter feeders can contribute to sustainable protein production (Boyd et al, 2022). One potential solution is to invest in sustainable aquaculture practices to increase seafood production. This can help alleviate pressure on wild fish populations while also providing a reliable source of protein for the growing population. Bivalve culture can support food security by providing nutritious food rich in essential nutrients like protein and omega-3 fatty acids necessary for human health and well-being (Yaghubi, 2021). Increasing bivalve production through aquaculture can contribute to meeting the growing demand for food and improving food security worldwide. Bivalve aquaculture has a significantly lower environmental footprint than other protein sources (Box 1). They don't require land, freshwater, or feed inputs and can even filter and improve water quality (Suplicy, 2020). Bivalves efficiently convert organic matter into high-quality protein, requiring minimal resources and contributing minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared to other protein sources (Willer & Aldridge, 2020). The bivalve industry in Malaysia includes green mussels, oysters, cockles and clams.
This policy brief aims to highlight the potential of the bivalve industry contribution to Malaysia's food security goals. Bivalves offer a sustainable and nutritious seafood source. To fully exploit their benefits, the report recommends focusing on four key areas:
1. Empowering Local Communities:
2. Developing Smart Bivalve Aquaculture:
3. Strengthening Evidence-Based Fisheries Management:
4. Advancing Bivalve Aquaculture through Advanced Research & Innovation:
This Policy Brief was based on research funded by Bivalve Aquaculture Research Excellence Consortium Grant No. 203/PPANTAI/6783002 from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia.
Boyd, C. E., McNevin, A. A., & Davis, R. P. (2022). The contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to the global protein supply. Food security, 14(3), 805-827.
Department of Fisheries in http://www.dof.gov.my/en/fishery-statistics.Willer, D. F., & Aldridge, D. C. (2020). Sustainable bivalve farming can deliver food security in the tropics. Nature Food, 1(7), 384-388.
MOA (2011). National Agro-Food Policy, 2011-2020. Putrajaya: Ministry of Agriculture and Agro- Based Industry.
Suplicy, F. M. (2020). A review of the multiple benefits of mussel farming. Reviews in Aquaculture, 12(1), 204-223.
Yaghubi, E., Carboni, S., Snipe, R. M., Shaw, C. S., Fyfe, J. J., Smith, C. M., ... & Hamilton, D. L.
Witus, I. W., & Vun, L. W. (2016). Aquaculture in Malaysia: a short review on current policy and legislation. Transactions on Science and Technology, 3(1-2), 150-154.
(2021). Farmed mussels: A nutritive protein source, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, with a low environmental footprint. Nutrients, 13(4), 1124.
Sazlina Salleh, Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk
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May 2024
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