Final Round Discussion Among Experts for Setting the Spiny Lobster and Tiger Prawn Refugia in Malaysia

Photo: DOF/Malaysia

Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) organized a mini-seminar on establishing fisheries refugia for lobster in Tanjung Leman, Johor, and tiger prawn in Kuala Baram, Sarawak, from 30 March to 2 April 2021. The seminar was attended by 25 participants physically and virtually from fisheries research institutions, universities, marine parks, SEAFDEC/MFRDMD, and headquarters' senior officers (Appendix 1).

The seminar's objectives are as follows:

1. to update the scientific findings from the survey studies for a further selection of the refugia’s boundaries.
2. Information sharing platform between Centre of Excellence's expertise and the Department of Fisheries, specifically on the site’s characteristic and supporting technical data.
3. Integrating research data to determine the boundaries of the refugia establishment area
4. Determination of phase of the species life stage that needs to be managed and protected
5. Evaluate and identify appropriate management measures based on the findings of the studies
6. Discuss and formulate further actions towards the management of refugia areas identified

Study of Lobster Resources for the Establishment of a Fishery Refugia in East Johore WatersThe discussions are based on nine research studies from the National Fisheries Research Institutes involved in the project as follows:

1. Distribution and Density of Phyllosoma Lobster in East Johore and Pahang Waters of Peninsular Malaysia
2. The Report on the Study of Mud Spiny Lobster (Panulirus polyphagus) Distribution and Density in East Johor-South Pahang Waters: Observer-On- Board Survey 2019
3. Maturation and spawning of female adult Penaeus monodon in Kuala Baram, Miri, Sarawak
4. The Study of Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) spawners, distribution, density, and biomass in Kuala Baram, Miri Sarawak in 2019
5. The study of juvenile tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), distribution, density, and biomass of juvenile monodon in Sg. Pasu, Sg.Lutong and Sg. Bakam in Miri, Sarawak
6. Biological information of mud spiny lobster, Panulirus polyphagus in Johor, Malaysia
7. Pre-Project Effect Study of Establishment of Mud Spiny Lobster Refugia Area on the Fishermen Socioeconomy of South Pahang -East Johor
8. Pre-Project Effect Study of Establishment of Tiger Prawn Refugia Area on the Fisherman Socioeconomy of Kuala Baram, Sarawak

The Refugia for Lobster sites at Tanjung Leman, Johor (Figure 1), and The Tiger Prawn Refugia sites in Kuala Baram, Sarawak (Figure 2) are finalized,The results presented the decision to support the establishment of a regional system of fisheries refugia in Malaysia as follows:

1. The meeting members agreed to protect mature adults for both species, especially during the breeding season.
2. Good practices and management measures workshops will be held soon to evaluate management aspects in accordance with socioeconomic and technical data on both refugia sites.
3. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) agreed to share data and information on the study of lobster and tiger prawns to help strengthen the research results.

For more information, please follow-up our Fisheries Refugia Website as: https://fisheries-refugia.org.

(updated on 5 November 2021)

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Prof. Dr. Mohd Ikhwanuddin bin Abdullah	Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, University Malaysia Terengganu
Dr. Khor Wai Ho	Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries, University Malaysia Terengganu
Dr. Zainoddin bin Jamari	Director Fisheries Research Institute, Batu Maung, Penang Department of Fisheries
Mr. Hj. Mohd Sufian bin Sulaiman	Senior Director Marine Parks and Resource Management Division Fisheries Headquarters, Putrajaya
Mdm. Shamila binti Zainol	Head of Marine Parks Development and Marine Protection Section Marine Parks and Resource Management Division Fisheries Headquarters, Putrajaya
Mr. Sallehudin bin Jamon	Director Fisheries Research Institute Kg. Acheh, Lumut Perak
Mr. Jamil bin Musel	Director Fisheries Research Institute Bintawa, Sarawak
Mdm. Vaani a/p Muniandy	Fisheries Officer Planning and Development Division Fisheries Headquarters, Putrajaya
Mdm. Halina binti Hashim	Head of Marine Parks, Resource Management and Protection Section Pahang State Fisheries Office
Ms Bahrinah binti Bahrim	Head of Marine Parks, Resource Management and Protection Branch Johor State Fisheries Office
Mdm. Norhanida binti Daud	Senior Research Officer FRI Batu Maung Pulau Pinang
Mdm. Aishah binti Hj. Yusoff	Senior Fisheries Officer Marine Parks Development and Marine Protection Branch
Mdm Normah binti Said	Fisheries Officer Collaboration and Public Awareness Section Marine Parks and Resource Management Division Fisheries Headquarters, Putrajaya
Mr. Albert Apollo Chan	Fisheries Officer Ecosystem Conservation and Biodiversity Section Marine Parks and Resource Management Division Fisheries Headquarters, Putrajaya
Mdm. Noraishah binti Hashim	Director Johor State Fisheries Office
Mdm. Noor Hasmayana binti Yahaya	Head of Fisheries Resource Management Section Marine Parks and Resource Management Division Fisheries Headquarters, Putrajaya
Mr. Mohamad Saupi bin Ismail	Senior Research Officer FRI Batu Maung Pulau Pinang
Mr. Abd. Haris Hilmi bin Ahmad Arshad	Marine Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (MFRDMD), Terengganu
Liza binti Long	Deputy Director (Management) Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department
Mdm Nurridan binti Abd Han	Senior Research Officer FRI Bintawa Sarawak
Mr.Ryon Siow	Senior Research Officer FRI Kg. Acheh Perak
Mr. Rizwan bin Nordin	Fisheries Officer Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department
En. Gerald N. Misol JR	Marine Parks, Resource Management and Protection Branch Johor State Fisheries Office
Ms. Nur Hidayah binti Asgnari	Research Officer FRI Kg. Acheh Perak
Mdm. Nurashiqin binti Salih Udin	Fisheries Officer Marine Parks and Resource Management Division, Headquarters
Ms.Nor Amnah binti Taib	Assistant Fisheries Officer Marine Parks and Resource Management Division