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N. D. Hairuddin et al.
5.1 Introduction
The farming of animals and plants in aquatic environment or known as aquaculture is
becoming an important industry in the world to remunerate the declining of capture
fisheries and to reduce the pressure on marine resources (Yusoff 2003). As reported
by Food and Agricultural Organization (2001), the world aquaculture production
is growing more than 10% every year. In contrast, the growth of capture fisheries
and livestock increase only by 1.5% and 3%, respectively. The rapid growing of this
industry involving small scales aquaculture for local consumption and large scales for
international markets indirectly contribute to foreign currency earning. According
to the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies (2000), aquaculture practices not only
contribute to the increasing of national food production but also act as an alternative
in overcoming the reduction of fish stock due to overexploitation of fishing activities.
In Malaysia, aquaculture industry is being promoted as one of the most important
engines of economic growth for the country (Yusoff 2015). Aquaculture practices
was first developed in 1920s in Peninsular Malaysia but only begun to grow in early
1930s in East Malaysia. It began with the freshwater aquaculture and brackish water
aquaculture in the late 1930s. Malaysia is surrounded by good climate conditions
which allow for year-round aquaculture production. In spite of the raining season
from November to January in the east coast of the peninsular, Malaysia is located in a
low-risk area of natural disasters. This advantage makes Malaysia a highly potential
country in the aquaculture industry. Williams (2003) reported that the consumption
per capita fish nationally has reached up to 57.7 kg, which is higher than the Asian
average of 28.0 kg and also the world’s average of 15.8 kg. In 2014, Malaysia was
among the highest in fish consumption in Asia, annually at 56.5 kg per capita (Othman
et al. 2017). Mazlan (2000) stated that approximately 60–70% of the total protein
intake is in the form of fish and fisheries products. This shows that the main role of
aquatic resources is in the nutritional intake of Malaysian population. An average
of 20% of Malaysian’s dietary food is seafood and this trend remains unchanged
despite the availability of chicken (Othman et al. 2017). The same study also stated
that aquaculture is the main source of protein for 30.75 million inhabitants in the
country. It may be due to the declination in production from capture fisheries (Othman
et al. 2017). In 2016, contribution of aquaculture was 506,454 tonnes, valued at
MYR 3.3 billion (Department of Fisheries 2016). Apart from that, aquaculture also
provides employment, business and investment opportunities in the country. In 2015,
there were 23,832 aqua farmers in Malaysia, mainly in freshwater sector and the
majority are owner-operators (Department of Fisheries 2016). Malaysia aquaculture
practices is being carried out in earthen ponds, floating sea, river cages and tanks.
Currently, there are three main practices which are in freshwater, brackish water and
marine aquaculture (Hamdan et al. 2015), with the most preferred farmed fish are
Clarias catfish and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Othman et al. 2017). The present
chapter discussed the potential of microalgae as an alternative nutrition in fish feed
formulations, specifically Tilapia.
N. D. Hairuddin et al.
5.1 Introduction
The farming of animals and plants in aquatic environment or known as aquaculture is
becoming an important industry in the world to remunerate the declining of capture
fisheries and to reduce the pressure on marine resources (Yusoff 2003). As reported
by Food and Agricultural Organization (2001), the world aquaculture production
is growing more than 10% every year. In contrast, the growth of capture fisheries
and livestock increase only by 1.5% and 3%, respectively. The rapid growing of this
industry involving small scales aquaculture for local consumption and large scales for
international markets indirectly contribute to foreign currency earning. According
to the Canadian Institute for Climate Studies (2000), aquaculture practices not only
contribute to the increasing of national food production but also act as an alternative
in overcoming the reduction of fish stock due to overexploitation of fishing activities.
In Malaysia, aquaculture industry is being promoted as one of the most important
engines of economic growth for the country (Yusoff 2015). Aquaculture practices
was first developed in 1920s in Peninsular Malaysia but only begun to grow in early
1930s in East Malaysia. It began with the freshwater aquaculture and brackish water
aquaculture in the late 1930s. Malaysia is surrounded by good climate conditions
which allow for year-round aquaculture production. In spite of the raining season
from November to January in the east coast of the peninsular, Malaysia is located in a
low-risk area of natural disasters. This advantage makes Malaysia a highly potential
country in the aquaculture industry. Williams (2003) reported that the consumption
per capita fish nationally has reached up to 57.7 kg, which is higher than the Asian
average of 28.0 kg and also the world’s average of 15.8 kg. In 2014, Malaysia was
among the highest in fish consumption in Asia, annually at 56.5 kg per capita (Othman
et al. 2017). Mazlan (2000) stated that approximately 60–70% of the total protein
intake is in the form of fish and fisheries products. This shows that the main role of
aquatic resources is in the nutritional intake of Malaysian population. An average
of 20% of Malaysian’s dietary food is seafood and this trend remains unchanged
despite the availability of chicken (Othman et al. 2017). The same study also stated
that aquaculture is the main source of protein for 30.75 million inhabitants in the
country. It may be due to the declination in production from capture fisheries (Othman
et al. 2017). In 2016, contribution of aquaculture was 506,454 tonnes, valued at
MYR 3.3 billion (Department of Fisheries 2016). Apart from that, aquaculture also
provides employment, business and investment opportunities in the country. In 2015,
there were 23,832 aqua farmers in Malaysia, mainly in freshwater sector and the
majority are owner-operators (Department of Fisheries 2016). Malaysia aquaculture
practices is being carried out in earthen ponds, floating sea, river cages and tanks.
Currently, there are three main practices which are in freshwater, brackish water and
marine aquaculture (Hamdan et al. 2015), with the most preferred farmed fish are
Clarias catfish and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (Othman et al. 2017). The present
chapter discussed the potential of microalgae as an alternative nutrition in fish feed
formulations, specifically Tilapia.