Fish farms steer clear of red tide areas
KOTA KINABALU: No losses were reported when the red tide occurred in Sabah’s West Coast, and this was because most of the fish farms in Sabah are located at areas that are not affected by the phenomenon, according to Sabah Fisheries Department director Datuk Rayner Stuel Galid.
“There are not many fish cages in any of the affected districts because there are more attractive sites elsewhere,” he said.
Rayner said most operators now prefer to set up fish farms in Silam and Kudat, and the preference for these places had something to do with the big river influence which impacts on water salinity and water turbidity of the areas.
There are altogether 24 fish farms operating in Sabah, he said.
Meanwhile, the red tide incidences in Sabah’s West Coast are blamed on two types of algal blooms, i.e. Pyrodinium Bahamense and Cochlodinium polykrikoides.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) Unit for Harmful Algal Bloom Studies head, Professor Datin Seri Panglima Dr Ann Anton, in describing the algal blooms, said that pyrodinium bahamense secretes toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), while cochlodinium polykirkoides were likely to have been introduced to the waters of Sabah’s West Coast via ballast water since their existence in Sabah was only recorded in 2003 and not before that.
She explained that her team of researchers had been conducting a study on the red tide incidences in Sabah’s West Coast for the last two years since, unlike other places in the country, Sabah was the only State that had been continuously plagued from its occurrences.
The aim of the study was to find out what triggered the red tide from occurring in Sabah’s water and to possibly, find ways to stop its occurrences, she said.
Dr Ann however noted that it was not easy to get rid of the algal blooms that cause the red tide.
“Presently our study is being carried out at the laboratory level,” she said.
Meanwhile, BMRI director Associate Professor Dr Rossita Shapawi stressed on the importance of the study to the communities living in Sabah, particularly those dependent on the sea for their livelihood.
“The occurrences of the red tide in Sabah’s West Coast had huge economic implications on our community, particularly the fishing community, as well as the tourism sector,” she said.
The red tide also had adverse impact on the aquaculture sector, she said.
“That’s why most large scale aquaculture projects are only being carried out at Sabah’s East Coast, which is not affected by the red tide,” she said.
And, although they do not have the actual figure as to how much losses were incurred by those affected as a result of the red tide, Dr Rossita said that it was possibly very high.
“That is why it is so important for us to research the matter,” she said.
She added that Dr Ann and her team had been carrying out the research for over two years and the objective was to find ways to curb the incidences of red tide.
As to how much longer the team would need to do their research, Dr Rossita said that it may need many more years.
“You cannot simply apply what you have learned from the laboratory to the actual sea environment because they are distinct from one another.”
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