TOKYO, Japan: Sarawak is enhancing its fisheries and aquaculture industries by learning from Japans integrated, science-driven research approach under the Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA).
Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said Japan serves as the best example in developing a robust, continuous fisheries research system that aligns with government policies, industries, and academia.
“We want to understand how Japan successfully built research capacity and maintained continuity between academic fields, industries, and government policies,” he said.
“This experience is highly relevant for Sarawak as we seek to strengthen our research and training ecosystem in aquaculture and marine resources.”
Dr Rundi said this during a working visit to the FRA in Tokyo, joined by Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (Commodity and Regional Development), Datuk Martin Ben, and Sarawak Department of Agriculture’s Director, Dominic Chunggat.
Dr Rundi said the FRA, which operates under Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is a national institution that coordinates fisheries research, development, and education to ensure a stable seafood supply and sustainable industrial growth.
He added that Japan currently has over 500 full-time fisheries researchers nationwide, compared to Sarawak, which is still in the early stages with only five active researchers.
The Sarawak delegation was also briefed on Japan’s Science-Based Fisheries Management Model, which emphasises the use of satellite data, dynamic ocean models, and collaboration with fishing communities to predict ecosystem changes and fish catch patterns.
Dr Rundi also expressed Sarawak’s interest in adopting Japan’s approach to managing invasive fish species that threaten local biodiversity, including the issue of Amazon fish entering Sarawak’s rivers and affecting native fish species.
He added that the visit also opened up opportunities for Sarawak to establish research collaborations and short-term training programmes under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for local officers and researchers.
Additionally, the delegation received a briefing on the National Fisheries University, which operates under the FRA and plays a key role in training students and professionals in marine science, seafood processing, and aquaculture engineering.
Operating under Japan’s Fifth Medium-Term Plan (2021-2025), the FRA focuses on fisheries and sustainable aquaculture technology research and development, human resource development in fisheries science, and the revitalisation of Japan’s fisheries industry through data- and technology-driven innovation.
