Toward Systematic Breeding of Asian Sea Bass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790), in Malaysia: Status, Challenges and Prospects for Future Development

Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790), is one of the most farmed marine fish in Malaysia since the 1970 s and is predominantly cultured at present.Although it has been farmed for some time, there is no systematic breeding programme in place.Local hatcheries rely heavily on wild and imported broodstock.However, imported stocks do not guarantee improved quality and even increase the chances of introducing pathogens into the country.

AFS 67th Council Meeting 2025 | Asian Fisheries Society

News

AFS 67th Council Meeting 2025
05 Apr, 2025

The Asian Fisheries Society (AFS) convened its 67th Council Meeting on February 11, 2025, in New Delhi, India, immediately before the 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (AFAF14). The AFS President, Prof. Neil Loneragan (Murdoch University, Australia) presided over the meeting. We were joined for parts of the meeting by co-opted Council member and lead organiser of AFAF14, the esteemed Dr. Joykrushna Jena, who provided an update on the 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum in New Delhi, from February 12-15,2025.

A total of 15 people participated in the meeting (11 onsite and 4 online). People onsite were Prof. Neil Loneragan (AFS President, Murdoch University, Australia); Prof. Murni Marlina Abd Karim (Secretary, Universiti Putra Malaysia); Dr. Nur Leena Wong W.S. (Treasurer, Universiti Putra Malaysia); Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Lal (Director of Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, India); Dr. Nikita Gopal (Chairperson of GAFS); Dr. C.N. Ravishankar (Director of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education); Dr. Joykrushna Jena (Chair of AFSIB, ); Prof. Alice Joan G. Ferrer (University of the Philippines Visayas); Prof. Wilfredo Campos (University of the Philippines Visayas); Prof. Marieta Sumagaysay (Chairperson of AFSSRN, University of the Philippines Visayas) and Mrs. Malathi Thanamsegaram (AFS Executive Officer).

In attendance online were Prof. Budy Wiryawan (IPB University, Indonesia); Prof. Hong Thih Lai (National Chiayi University); Prof. Indah Susilowati (University of Diponegoro, Indonesia; Dr. Kua Beng Chu (Chair of FHS, Fisheries Research Institute of Malaysia).

The meeting focussed largely on the organisation of the AFAF14, including the awards and prizes for the Kanazawa and Yang Yi Fellowships. It also considered progress on the development of the new website for AFS and planning for the major coming meetings: Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Symposium 9 (GAFS9, Bangkok, September 2025); Diseases in Asian Aquaculture (DAA12, Chennai, October 2025); Cage Aquaculture in Asia (CAA8, Nha Trang, Vietnam 2026) and International Symposium on Aquaculture and Fisheries Education (ISAFE5, venue to be decided, 2026).

This was the last meeting of the 14th Council for the Asian Fisheries Society, and all councillors were thanked for their service to the Society over 2022-2025 years.

Participants in the 67th AFS Council Meeting. From the left: Prof. Wilfredo Campos; Dr Kuldeep Kumar Lal; Dr. Ravishankar; Mrs Malathi Thanamsegaram; Prof Alice J Ferrer; Dr Nikita Gopal;Prof. Marieta Sumagaysay; Prof.Neil Loneragan; Prof. Murni Marlina Abd Karim;Dr. Nur Leena Wong Wai Sin; on the screen (Prof. Hong Thih Lai and Dr.Kua Beng Chu.

Three of the online participants at the 67th AFS Council meeting: top left to right: Prof Budy Wiryawan; Dr. Kua Beng Chu Bottom: Prof. Indah Susilawati.