PETALING JAYA: Milkfish, a preferred dish in Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines, might turn into a well-recognized title on menus throughout Malaysia by 2025, if the fisheries division succeeds in its breeding efforts.
A complete of 4.6 million milkfish eggs have been produced by the division’s analysis institute since August, mentioned the director-general of fisheries, Adnan Hussain.
He introduced milkfish fry to 10 marine fish farmers from Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as we speak on the analysis institute in Tanjung Demong, Kelantan.
Adnan mentioned the fisheries division is actively working in direction of increasing the milkfish farming trade as home demand for the fish has elevated.
“The manufacturing of milkfish on this nation had elevated to 9,276 metric tonnes final 12 months, in comparison with solely 2,819 metric tonnes in 2021,” he mentioned, eNM reported.
Only one firm, in Batu Lintang, Sungai Petani, Kedah, is finishing up commercial-scale milkfish farming nevertheless it depends on restricted provides of imported milkfish fry.
The fisheries analysis institute had carried out analysis on milkfish fry and breeding to reinforce the standard of broodstock.
“From July 4, a complete of 11 brood fish and 30,000 14-day-old fry had been imported and bred. The broodstock laid 100,000 eggs on Aug 3 and as much as as we speak, 4.6 million eggs have been produced,” he mentioned.
He mentioned milkfish is simpler to farm than different marine fish resembling barramundi, grouper or snappers, and the division hopes that milkfish provide will have the ability to meet the excessive demand for marine fish by 2025.
Milkfish, generally known as bandeng in Indonesia and bangos within the Philippines, is a silvery marine fish that’s the solely residing member of the Chanidae household.
A toothless herbivore with a deeply forked tail, it’s present in hotter areas of the Pacific and Indian oceans and grows to 1-1.5m or extra in size.
According to a cooking web site, milkfish has a agency texture with a light, candy style and can be utilized in soup or fried or grilled. Milkfish soup is barely milky trying due to the emulsion of the milkfish stomach’s gelatin and fats.
