AquaFair KL (AQKL2023) began on October 13 with the opening ceremony led by the supporting agency, Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and industry leaders in the ornamental sector. The show organised by Fairs & Events Management will continue over three days until 15 October at the MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Kan estimated more than 30,000 visitors over these 3 days.
Malaysia is the 4th largest exporter of ornamental fish within ASEAN and eight 8th largest exporter globally. The production for 2022 was 200.34 million tails valued at MYR453 million (USD 100 million, DOF). The leading producers are in Penang followed by Perak and Selangor. Malaysia’s production of ornamental fish includes goldfish Carassius auratus, Betta fish Betta splendens, discus Symphysodon and Arowana (from the subfamily Osteoglossinae). The goldfish is the major contributor at 60%. The show had displays of the various versions of these in including the wild caught Malaysian mahseer Tor tambroides for aquarium fish hobbyists.
In his introduction to the event, Jonathan Kan, CEO Fairs and Events Management, said that the aim is to explore the export potential for Malaysia’s ornamental fish and for the producers to seek new business opportunities. The industry has been moving fast adopting IoT during production and he encouraged the younger generation to join the industry. The exhibition attracted more than 60 exhibitors from within Malaysia and neighbouring countries to display ornamental fish, aquatic plans and other products along the ornamental fish supply chain, such as pumps and water filters. Growel Feeds, one of India’s leading aquafeed producers, was an exhibitor to introduce its large range of extruded feeds for various ornamental fish.
In addition, AFKL 2023 organised several competitions such as the various classes of arowana fish (classic, gold and silver), goldfish and betta fish which attracted participation from producers in Malaysia as well as from Singapore and Indonesia. The gold arowana is endemic to Lake Bukit Merah, Perak and has a large export potential to North America and Europe. In the last 5 years, there has been a lot of demand for the Betta fish which is attracting the younger generation to enter the industry. Furthermore, the Betta Fish Association organises competitions every month to create more interest in this fish.
DOF says that currently the number of players in the ornamental fish industry is 901 covering 735 hectares and many of them are individuals and small-scale farmers. Nevertheless, their contribution to the agriculture sector is significant. In his opening speech, the Deputy Minister of Aquaculture and Food Security, Tuan Chan Foong Hin urged producers to follow requirements in biosecurity and apply for the MYGAP (Malaysia Good Aquaculture Practices) to have better access to export markets.
Aquafair Malaysia was the initiative of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia which began in 2006 with the support of the local ornamental fish industry players. The last Aquafair was held in 2013.
Suggested reading: Anjur N, Sabran SF, Daud HM, Othman NZ (2021) An update on the ornamental fish industry in Malaysia: Aeromonas hydrophila-associated disease and its treatment control, Veterinary World, 14(5): 1143-1152. doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2021.1143-1152
