The Project, 'Artificial propagation of empurau, Tor tambroides and semah, Tor douronensis, two species of commercial and conservation value to Sarawak, Malaysia', commenced in April 2001, and was successfully carried out over a four-year period. The Project accomplished the primary objectives. The most outstanding achievements were the success in the captive breeding of the semah and empurau, and the training of the Malaysian officers in adopting the techniques, as a routine, and the successes in the larval to fingerling rearing of the two species.
Although the captive breeding of these two valuable species have been achieved, as a first and an important step, there are many other research & development issues that have to be addressed, and tangible results obtained, prior to:
- Commercialisation, and long-term sustainability, of the culture of these two valuable species.
- Utilisation of captive-bred juveniles for replenishing the much-depleted wild stocks to ensure long-term conservation needs.
In the above regard that it is proposed that the R&D activities on semah and empurau be further carried out, enabling the Government of Sarawak to popularise the aquaculture of these most invaluable species to the State of Sarawak. Also, it is equally importantly to enable the State to adopt a scientifically based, enhancement program of the already depleted wild stocks thereby ensuring the long-term conservation of the gene pools of the two species.
A consolidated R&D program on captive-breeding, associated with successful culture of the two species, combined with a conservation strategy through enhancement of the wild stocks, will be the first instance in Asia, for that matter in the world, where a such a combined strategy has been adopted with regard to indigenous species. A program that would shed light to other nations in the region, and indeed to the world, that aquaculture development could go hand in hand with conservation of biodiversity.
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