Pulau besar: The Fisheries Department aims to release about 200,000 flower crab, also known as blue swimming crab, juveniles into the waters off Pulau Besar within a year to replenish fishery resources and boost fishermen's catches.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fisheries deputy director-general (Management) Datuk Abdullah Jaafar said the protected fishing area was selected because it provides a suitable habitat for flower crabs to grow before migrating to nearby waters, where they can be caught by fishermen. "This programme offers long-term benefits to fishermen as flower crabs spill over from the protected zone into fishing grounds," he told reporters after officiating the Seagrass Conservation Programme and Flower Crab Breeding and Release Programme at Pulau Besar today.
The programme was held in collaboration with Aquaria KLCC, AquaWalk Bhd, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), and the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM), involving about 150 participants, including school students. Abdullah said 35,000 flower crab juveniles were released today under the programme's first phase, implemented in collaboration with the International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (I-AQUAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
He said the species takes about 12 months to reach commercial size, making it essential to protect its habitat from activities that could threaten its survival. He added that the seagrass conservation programme also helps restore marine habitats and maintain biodiversity, as seagrass provides an important habitat for marine species such as flower crabs, sea turtles, and dugongs.
"The Fisheries Department and UPM will conduct research and monitoring to evaluate the programme's effectiveness in enhancing marine biodiversity, fishery resources, and economic benefits for the fishing community. We also plan to expand the programme to several other states, including Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak, subject to habitat suitability," he said.
Meanwhile, AquaWalk Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Daryl Foong said the collaboration reflected the private sector's role in supporting marine conservation through science-based, multi-stakeholder initiatives. "As an institution focused on marine education and conservation, Aquaria KLCC believes conserving natural habitats requires cooperation between the government, research institutions, the private sector, and the community, while raising public awareness of the importance of preserving marine ecosystems for future generations," he said.