Malaysia and Thailand Conduct Online Inspections to Assess Aquaculture Biosecurity

Following Malaysia’s suspension of imports of five types of shrimp from Thailand, the Malaysian Fisheries Department is conducting mutual online inspections with the Thai authorities to carry out technical assessments of the fisheries trade between both countries.

Fisheries Department Director General Datuk Adnan Hussin indicated that the inspection includes assessing the biosecurity program’s structure and implementation at aquaculture farms, as well as reviewing related documents, such as laboratory chemical analysis reports and prohibited substance usage records.

He said that the inspection scope also encompasses comprehensive evaluations of aquaculture farms, laboratories, hatcheries, and border entry points in both countries.

“The inspections for shrimp farming have already been completed. This week, they are inspecting our barramundi farms, and in turn, we are inspecting theirs.”

He made these comments after attending the deployment program for cube-shaped artificial reef trawl barriers in the waters of Tinggi Island and Pulau Sibu.

Adnan mentioned that this online inspection, which began on July 28 and is expected to end this Friday, is a crucial step in verifying both countries’ shrimp and barramundi production systems.

“All inspection activities were carried out after completing the questionnaire assessment and document review related to Thailand’s application to export shrimp to Malaysia.”

He said the assessment process is expected to be completed this week, after which both parties will conduct further consultations to review the inspection results, after which any announcement will be made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture announced a suspension, effective from June 1, on the import of five types of shrimp from Thailand—giant tiger prawn, giant freshwater prawn, whiteleg shrimp, grass shrimp, and blue shrimp—in order to strengthen controls over Thai fishery products.

Additionally, Johor Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Mohamad Islah explained that, to strengthen marine ecological protection, 20 cube-shaped artificial reefs have been deployed in the sea to block trawling activities.

He said this initiative aims to increase fishery resources and curb the intrusion of trawling activities in coastal areas, with 10 artificial reefs to be installed each in the waters of Tinggi Island and Pulau Sibu, with an allocation of RM 652,220.

“Each reef weighs about 17 tonnes, and their purpose is to serve as protected habitats for marine life, aggregation sites for fish, and as physical barriers to block fishing activities that could damage the seabed ecosystem.”