Kelah/Empurau Flagship Programme

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

Total fish food consumption
(million tonnes)
7.6
9.8
3.1
15.2
70.5
0.8
Africa
North and Central
America
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.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Capture
Aquaculture
2000
2001
2002
2003
2005
World fisheries and aquaculture
production (Million Tonnes)
Food Security

Fisheries play a significant role in regional food
security and at the same time contributing to our
economies and social well-being.
Economies
Social wellbeing
Food fish
Food
Security
Malaysian Mahseer
• Member of the family Cyprinidae
• Tor tambroides and Tor
douronensis
Nomenclature
• Locally known as kelah in
Semenanjung, Empurau in
Sarawak and Pelian in Sabah
• Widely distributed in Asia, in
the Himalayan and in
Geographical
particular, South East Asia
distribution
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
Outstanding game –
provide recreation
activity to anglers
Potential in
aquaculture and
increased interest in
aquarium trade
Economic
importance
of Tor
Highly esteemed food
fish – fetches high
market price
Support natural fishery in
the major riverine system
Overfishing
(angling, sport)
Under threat of
extinction
Problem
Statement
Environmental
degradation
(logging
deforestation)
Production does
not meet market
demand
Cultured
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
Mitogenome
Spawning, hatching &
survival rate
DNA Sex Marker
Egg quality
 Transcriptomic
 Proteomic
 Metabolomics
Genetic
Flesh quality and
functionality
Nutrition
Growth rate
LTTASB fish
feed
formulation
Probiotic
Reproduction
Broodstock baseline
data for reproduction
Immunity
Herbal
medicated
feed
Project Team
ABI
 Egg quality traits
 Probiotics
 Flesh quality and
functionality
UiTM
 Mitogenomic
study
 Establishment of
genomic data
Resource
Centre:
 DOF (Sabah), PPA
Perlok & IFRPC,
Tarat
 Production of
fingerling
 Technology transfer
LTTASB
 Growth related
nutrition
 Spawning,
hatching and
survival
UMT
 Brood stock
baseline data on
reproduction
 Nutrition
FRI
 DNA Sexing
 Herbal
medicated feed
Key Milestones
2013 – 2015
2014
Genomic database
of Malaysian
Mahseer developed
Feeding protocols
and formulations
established
3 Hatcheries Facilities Flesh quality and
established
functionalities
verified
Basic
biological/ecological
info determined
2013
2015
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
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
Nutrient requirements and feeding
protocols (including local
ingredients, immunity against
diseases) for larvae, grow-out and
broodstock established.
Genomic database established and
marker assisted selection
determined.
ABI
31/12/13
FRI, UMT, LTT & ABI
30/06/14
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
Resource Centre
30/09/15
3.
4.
7.
1 million fry successfully produced.
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 you for the attention
Thank youor the
attention