40 JUNE 2015 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG Several training sessions on oyster farming, including oyster handling, maintenance, grading and sorting were conducted formally and informally. Through training, participants were able to grade and sort seed to enhance growth and separate market-size oysters. Under the KTP, interns selected from post-graduate students of USM were involved in training and working together with growers. The Malaysian government wishes to groom the younger generation to be successful entrepreneurs under the KTP with assistance from USM. The interns involved in this program were able to work closely with growers and they are now been sensitized to the living standards of the local community members and appreciate the enthusiasm displayed by the growers. Raft Management and Production With floating rafts, regular monitoring and maintenance were required to ensure good growth and survival of oysters. Growers are required to periodically agitate the oysters on holding trays at the beginning (about once a week) to prevent seed oysters from fusing to one another. Additionally they remove biofouling organisms that can restrict the flow of water that brings dissolved oxygen and food organisms into the trays, thereby compromising growth and survival. Each cage-raft is able to produce 1,000 marketable size oysters per month. If the growth rate and survival are good, the local community will be able to generate approximately US$ 270-300 per month per group. After about 18 months of culturing oysters, the local community managed to harvest 11,529 marketable oysters at a sales price of US$ 0.40 per piece, earning an income of US$ 3,900. Seed Supply and Oyster Marketing Expansion of oyster farming in Malaysia could be faster and more extensive if not for the limited seed supply. Only hatchery production can provide the quantity and quality of oyster seed required for the expansion of oyster farming. Currently oyster farming relies on hatchery-produced rather than natural seed, which are inconsistent in amount and seasonal availability. Under the Knowledge Training Program, USM acted as a “matchmaker” between local groups of growers and the commercial hatcheries that supplied seed and between the growers and oyster buyers. This ensures that all oysters harvested by local communities will be sold at a reasonable price and, most importantly, that there are buyers for these oysters. Initially in the late 1980s, government efforts to promote oyster farming among fishing communities failed because growers could not market their oysters without help from the government. Local growers were not comfortable approaching hotels or restaurants to market their products. Now, the KTP is able to address this issue by ensuring that oyster seed suppliers provide a “guaranteed buy-back policy” with local growers. This policy also ensures that growers will be able to obtain a continuous supply of oyster seed from the hatchery. Basically local growers do not have to pay for the seeds at the beginning because the cost of seed will be deducted from ABOVE: The construction of floating rafts by the local community members.
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