EMPURAU PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE MALAYSIAN

MAHSEER/EMPURAU/KELAH AQUACULTURE

Presented at

BioBorneo 2013

19-20 February, 2013

Magellan Sutera Harbour, Sabah

Content

Background

Objective

Scope

Project team

Specific projects

Output

BACKGROUND

Bengkel Pelan Strategik Penyelidikan Empurau/Kelah

(Tor tambroides) Malaysia, 19-21 Julai, 2011 in

Sarawak

30 empurau researchers from USM, UPM, UMT,

UNISEL, UITM, JPS, DOF, ABI, FRI, PPA Perlok

presented and contributed to the Strategic Plan

Initiatives of Malaysian Mahseers

Issues, challenges and gaps in empurau researches

Food fish

Fish is a main source of animal protein and is

important in the diet of majority of the

population in Southeast Asia

Demand for food fish likely to increase over the

years inc pop and health attributes

7.6 9.8 3.1

15.2

0.8

70.5

Total fish food consumption (million tonnes)

Africa

North and CentralAmerica

South America

Europe

Oceania

Asia

Aquaculture

Accelerated expansion of aquaculture due to demand for food

fish and depletion of marine natural stocks

Malaysia targets aquaculture production of 727,300 tonnes

with a value of RM7 billion to be achieved by year 2015.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2000 2001 2002 2003 2005

World fisheries and aquacultureproduction (Million Tonnes)

Capture

Aquaculture

Food Security

Fisheries play a significant role in regional food

security and at the same time contributing to our

economies and social well-being.

Food Security

Social well-being

Economies

Food fish

Malaysian Mahseer

Nomenclature

• Member of the family Cyprinidae

• Tor tambroides and Tor douronensis

• Locally known as kelah in Semenanjung, Empurau in Sarawak and Pelian in Sabah

Geographical distribution

• Widely distributed in Asia, in the Himalayan and in particular, South East Asia region

Habitat

• Range from mountainous streams and rivers, to fast flowing rivers in the plain

• Prefer clear swift flowing waters with stony, pebbly rock bottom

Habitat

ECONOMIC VALUE

Economic importance

of Tor

Outstanding game – provide recreation activity to anglers

Support natural fishery in the major riverine system

Highly esteemed food fish – fetches high

market price

Potential in aquaculture and

increased interest in aquarium trade

Problem Statement

Under threat of extinction

Overfishing (angling, sport)

Environmental degradation

(logging deforestation)

Cultured

Production does not meet market

demand

Inconsistent quality of gametes

produced

Slow growth in captivity

Objectives

To develop efficient and sustainable

breeding program for Malaysian Mahseer

To develop specialized feeds for Malaysian

Mahseer as food fish (formulations for

different phases of life cycle)

To produce 400 domesticated brood

stocks and 1 million fry by 2015

Research scope

Genetic Reproduction

Nutrition

Mitogenome

Growth rate Immunity

DNA Sex Marker Spawning, hatching &

survival rate

Herbal

medicated

feed

Egg quality Transcriptomic

Proteomic

Metabolomics

Broodstock baseline

data for reproduction

LTTASB fish

feed

formulation

Probiotic

Flesh quality and

functionality

Project Team

ABI

Egg quality traits

Probiotics

Flesh quality and

functionality

UMT

Brood stock

baseline data on

reproduction

Nutrition

UiTM

Mitogenomic

study

Establishment of

genomic data

FRI

DNA Sexing

Herbal

medicated feed

LTTASB

Growth related

nutrition

Spawning,

hatching and

survival

Resource

Centre: DOF (Sabah), PPA

Perlok & IFRPC,

Tarat

Production of

fingerling

Technology transfer

3 Hatcheries Facilities established

Basic biological/ecological info determined

Genomic database of Malaysian Mahseer developed

Feeding protocols and formulations established

Flesh quality and functionalities verified

Malaysian Mahseer Reference Centres established

Rapid detection kit for sexing of Malaysian Mahseer developed

Broodstock management system established

Effective population size in breeding program increased to Ne = 400

2013

2014

2015 2013 – 2015

Key Milestones

ABI (Egg quality)

Biomarkers discovery for Egg Quality Related

Trait in Malaysian Mahseer (Tor tambroides)

Objectives:

◦ To identify and discover gene associated with egg quality

in Malaysian Mahseer (Tor tambroides)

◦ To establish biomarkers for egg quality in Malaysian

Mahseer (Tor tambroides)

ABI (Probiotics) Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Tor

tambroides and their Potential Use as

Probiotics

Objectives:

◦ To isolate and identify bacteria from Tor

tambroides

◦ To evaluate the safety of bacteria isolated

◦ To develop feed with probiotics for Tor

tambroides

◦ To evaluate viability of probiotics in feed

ABI (Flesh quality & functionality)

Quality and Functionality of Wild and

Captive Mahseer flesh

Objective:

◦ To determine the quality and functionality of wild

and captive mahseer flesh including

immunomodulatory, ACE inhibitory,antioxidant

etc

UMT

Tor tambroides broodstock maturation and

breeding performance through dietary approach

Objectives:

◦ To establish baseline data for Tor tambroides broodstock

conditioning

◦ To produce high quality Tor tambroides broodstock under

captive condition through dietary enhancement

◦ To develop protocols for Tor tambroides broodstock

development, maturation and breeding performance

UiTM Genome-Wide Genetic Marker Discovery And

Genotyping Of Malaysian Mahseer (Tor Spp.)

Objectives:

◦ To sequence whole genome of Malaysian Mahseer (Tor spp.)

using Next Generation Sequencing Technology

◦ To provide an accession id for mitochondrial genome of

Malaysian Mahseer (Tor spp.) in gene bank database

◦ To develop DNA barcoding marker and furnish data in BOLD

system

◦ To study genetic variability of Malaysian Mahseer (Tor spp.) for

population study using microsattelite and new biomarker

FRI (DNA Sexing) Gender Determination of Malaysian Mahseer (Tor

spp.) Using DNA Markers And DNA Biosensor

Technology

Objectives:

◦ To establish a rapid DNA isolation method from Malaysian

Mahseer

◦ To identify gender specific DNA markers in Malaysian

Mahseer

◦ To develop portable DNA based electrochemical

biosensors/test kits for rapid identification of gender of

Malaysian Mahseer

FRI (Herbal medicated feed)

Alternative medication using local herb as feed

additive for Malaysian Mahseer

Objectives:

◦ To determine the effect of alternative herb-based extracts

as feed additive to enhance growth and immunity against

diseases

◦ To determine the optimal application regime using

alternative herb-based medication feed

LTTASB Production enhancement and improved

technology for Empurau aquaculture for the high

value/luxury end of the table fish market

Objectives:

◦ Growth optimization of RAS-farmed grow-outs fed

LTTASB’s proprietary fish feed formulation and effect of

supplementation with growth hormone.

◦ To improve the rates of spawning, egg hatching and

fingerling survival

Output No. Output Organizations involved Date completed

1. Basic biological/ecological

information

UMT & LTT 31/12/13

2. Flesh quality and functionalities

determined

ABI 31/12/13

3. Nutrient requirements and feeding

protocols (including local

ingredients, immunity against

diseases) for larvae, grow-out and

broodstock established.

FRI, UMT, LTT & ABI 30/06/14

4. Genomic database established and

marker assisted selection

determined.

UiTM & ABI 31/12/14

5. Rapid detection kit for sexing of

Malaysian Mahseer

FRI 31/12/15

6. Broodstock management system

established

LTT & Resource

Centre

30/06/15

7. 1 million fry successfully produced.

Resource Centre 30/09/15

Resource Centre

Development of brood stock:

◦ IFRPC : 200 brood stocks

◦ PPA Perlok : 100 brood stocks

◦ LTTASB : 100 brood stocks

Production of fingerling:

◦ IFRPC : 500,000 tails

◦ LTTASB : 300,000 tails

◦ PPA Perlok : 150,000 tails

◦ DOF Sabah : 50,000 tails

Thank youor the

attention

Thank you for the attention