[Unpad Media Channel] The Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) at Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) conducted a working visit to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to hold a collaboration meeting and participate in the International Symposium 2024, themed “Feeding the Future: The Role of Aquaculture and Marine Science in Food Security,” in Kota Kinabalu on Friday, September 20, 2024.
This visit aimed to strengthen the cooperation that has been established between FPIK Unpad and the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) UMS, as well as to enhance broader research collaboration opportunities in aquaculture and marine sciences. The symposium theme focused on SDG 2, which addresses food security through aquaculture and marine science sectors.
The event was opened by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Faihanna Ching Abdullah, Director of the Borneo Marine Research Institute, followed by remarks from the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation UMS, Prof. Ir. Dr. Rossalam Hj. Sarbatly. On this occasion, three lecturers from FPIK Unpad were invited as speakers to share their insights on various important issues in fisheries and marine sciences. The Dean of FPIK, Dr. Sc. Agr. Yudi Nurul Ihsan, S.Pi., M.Si., participated in a discussion addressing the topic “Optimizing Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine Sector as a Development Capital.”
The Head of the Internationalization Unit at FPIK Unpad and a lecturer in the Fisheries Department, Fittrie Meyllianawaty Pratiwy, S.Pi., MIL., M.Sc., Ph.D., presented a paper titled “Impact of Environmental Changes on Fish Feed Intake and Physiological Responses in Aquaculture.” Meanwhile, the Research, Innovation, and Collaboration Manager at FPIK Unpad and a lecturer in the Fisheries Department, Roffi Grandiosa H., S.Pi., M.Sc., Ph.D., discussed “Biosecurity Practices on Shrimp Farms: The Study Case in Indramayu and Banyuwangi, Indonesia.” Additionally, two lecturers from BMRI UMS, Dr. Rafidah Othman and Dr. Madihah Jafar Sidik, also contributed to this symposium with their presentations.
This visit was conducted to reinforce the cooperation that has been established between FPIK Unpad and BMRI UMS. BMRI UMS has achieved status as a Higher Center of Excellence (HiCoE), which presents significant opportunities for collaborative research development, particularly in aquaculture and marine sciences. Moving forward, in an effort to strengthen this collaboration, two students will be involved in collaborative research through a double degree program commencing in 2025. The students will come from Indonesia and Malaysia, focusing on research in aquaculture. During a separate working meeting between FPIK Unpad and UMS, the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation UMS, Prof. Ir. Dr. Rossalam Hj. Sarbatly, stated, “Currently, Malaysia and Indonesia have established a strong relationship in research innovation, and to support sustainability, there needs to be synergy among the roles of research institutions, universities, and industries.”
In addition to attending the symposium and the working meeting, the FPIK Unpad lecturers also had the opportunity to visit the aquaculture hatchery at BMRI UMS, specifically to observe the breeding of Napoleon Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), which is currently categorized as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Research on this fish is expected to aid conservation efforts through fisheries technology innovation. In the near future, there will be collaborative research and joint supervision for postgraduate students concerning the reproductive biology of the Napoleon Humphead Wrasse, involving researchers from FPIK Unpad and supported by funding from HiCoE BMRI Malaysia.
It is hoped that through this visit and collaboration, the relationship between FPIK Unpad and BMRI UMS will grow stronger, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of fisheries and marine sciences through joint research and innovation. (Release from FPIK Unpad/SA)*
