Johor: The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) is engaging in reciprocal virtual inspections with Thai authorities as part of a technical assessment on fisheries trade following Malaysia's temporary suspension of imports of five shrimp species from Thailand.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, DOF's director-general, Datuk Adnan Hussain, stated that the inspections involve assessments of biosecurity programme implementation and composition at farms, along with reviews of related documents, including laboratory chemical analysis reports and the use of prohibited substances. The comprehensive evaluation extends to farms, laboratories, hatcheries, and border entry points in both countries.
Adnan highlighted that while the shrimp inspections have been completed, the focus is now shifting to seabass farms, with inspections of Malaysian farms by Thai authorities and vice versa. This initiative, which started on July 28, is set to conclude this Friday, aiming to verify shrimp and seabass production systems in both countries.
He mentioned that the virtual inspections were triggered after the completion of the questionnaire assessment for Thailand's shrimp export application to Malaysia at the documentation stage. The assessment process is expected to conclude this week, after which both parties will engage in further discussions to review the findings before any announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).
KPKM had announced last month a temporary suspension of imports of five shrimp species from Thailand, effective June 1, in an effort to enforce stricter controls on fisheries products. The affected species include Penaeus esculentus, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Penaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, and Penaeus stylirostris.
In a related development, Johor Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Md Israk Abdullah reported the deployment of 20 juvenile cuboid artificial reef barriers to bolster marine habitat protection. This initiative, costing RM652,220, aims to enhance fisheries resources and curb illegal trawl net activities, with 10 reefs each placed in the waters of Pulau Tinggi and Pulau Sibu. Each structure, weighing approximately 17 tonnes, is designed to serve as a protective habitat for marine life, a fish aggregation area, and a physical barrier against damaging fishing activities.