Kinki University to study 'full farming' of Southeast Asian eels with Malaysian school(Source: The Japan Times)
2016.02.29
http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/03/01/ums-kinki-university-sign-moa-on-fish-farming-techniques/
(News Release from University)
Kinki University announced it is collaborating with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to establish the UMS-Kinki University Aquaculture Development Center, and a ceremony was held at UMS today to commemorate the signing of this alliance between the two universities.
Summary
• Establishment of aquaculture development center jointly with Universiti Malaysia Sabah; a ceremony was held to commemorate the signing of this alliance.
• First overseas operation for Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory.
• International contribution by developing local aquaculture industry with the fish farming techniques of Kinki University.
• Fry production for grouper, humphead wrasse (Napoleon fish) and catfish, for which demand is high in Southeast Asia. In the future, the center will also pursue fry production of the Southeast Asian eel.
Launching ceremony at Universiti Malaysia Sabah
From the left, YBhg. Dato' Prof. Dr. Asma Ismail (Director General of Higher Education, Malaysia), Prof. Dr. Hitoshi Shinozaki (President of Kinki University), YBhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah(Vice-Chancellor of UMS), Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof(Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UMS) , Dayang Rukiah(Library Director of UMS)
Kinki University and UMS has established the UMS-Kinki University Aquaculture Development Center and will be commencing joint development of fish farming techniques. The center will also house the Southeast Asia Center of Kinki University Fish Nursery Center, which is Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory's first overseas center. Professor Shigeharu Senoo from Kinki University Fish Nursery Center will take on the post of manager for both the Aquaculture Development Center and the Fish Nursery Center's Southeast Asia Center.
Interaction between Kinki University and UMS has been on-going, and every year, Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory accepts exchange students from UMS studying aquaculture. Through this alliance, the two universities agree to venture together into fishery. This will make an international contribution by developing local aquaculture industry with the fish farming techniques of Kinki University.
The aquaculture development center will make use of Malaysia's climate, with its high water temperatures throughout the year, to carry out research in cross-breeding of Japanese and Malaysian grouper species, as well as high-quality production techniques for catfish species. The center will also carry out research, fry production and harvesting of high-quality fish such as the humphead wrasse. In the future, the center will also pursue fry production of the Southeast Asian eel.
Overview of UMS-Kinki University Aquaculture Development Center
| Location |
Borneo Marine Research Institute Universiti Malaysia Sabah Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Established | February 29, 2016 |
| Manager | Shigeharu Senoo |
| Employees | 76 |
Shigeharu Senoo
After graduating from the Department of Fisheries under the Faculty of Agriculture at Kinki University, Professor Senoo worked at the Shirahama Experiment Station of Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory; as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in Zambia; and as a JICA specialist in Malaysia, Nepal and other countries. He subsequently became a visiting professor at UMS Borneo Marine Research Institute, and concurrently the head of its fish hatchery. He was appointed as a professor of Fish Nursery Center, Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory in November 2015.
About Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) was established in 1994 as the first national university in Sabah, Malaysia. The university has about 17,000 students, with 13 faculties and three research centers, as well as campuses in Sandakan City and the island of Labuan.
Humphead wrasse (Napoleon fish)
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
An extremely expensive saltwater fish used as food in Southeast Asia and China. Although it can be found in various part of Southeast Asia, like other high-value fish, it suffers from overfishing and is greatly reducing in numbers. It may not be familiar to the Japanese people, but it is a saltwater fish of the highest prestige in Southeast Asia. Small-scale fry production is being carried out, but artificial techniques for high-quantity fry production have yet to be developed.
Relationship between Kinki University and Universiti Malaysia Sabah
A memorandum of understanding between Kinki University and Universiti Malaysia Sabah was signed in January 2004. Since then, intellectual exchanges spanning a wide range from science to culture have been carried out. The universities hope to nurture leaders for Malaysia's aquaculture industry, and advance each other's research.
Students specializing in aquaculture at UMS are required to conduct practical fieldwork as part of their coursework, and in recent years, Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory has been accepting exchange students from UMS on an annual basis. A variety of programs for such exchanges have been conducted so far, with 86 students participating. During the program conducted last summer, students from UMS carried out practical fieldwork in fish farming together with students from Kinki University at the laboratory's experiment stations in Shirahama, Oshima, and Uragami. These include experiments in the farming of bluefin tuna and red sea bream, as well as analysis of fish feed.
About Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory
Based on the principle of "learning for the real world," upon which Kinki University was founded, the Shirahama Seaside Research Facility was established in 1948, followed by seven other experiment stations and centers in Wakayama, Toyama, and Kagoshima, forming Japan's leading research institute in fish farming. Many of its published research are the first of its kind in the world, such as the full-cycle cultivation of bluefin tuna, and it is gaining attention not just in Japan but also around the world.
The laboratory is also at the forefront of university research centers. It does not stop at research, but also carries out other initiatives, such as working with major departmental stores and others to bring farm-raised fish to consumers.
| Location | Shirahama 3153, Nishimuro, Wakayama |
|---|---|
| Established | 1948 (known then as "Shirahama Seaside Research Facility") |
| Acting Director | Kenji Takii |
| Employees | 197 (12 teaching staff; 163 technical and other staff; 22 administrative staff) |
| Major Research Achievements |
Many world-first achievements, such as:
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Source
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/29/national/kinki-university-study-full-farming-southeast-asian-eels-malaysian-school/#.VtkJnU1unIU