Upon arrival at the cage culture site at the Kuala Setiu Lagoon, it was observed that the culture team has initiated the use of mangrove tree trunks and polyethylene ropes in replacing the bamboo and wire of the rafts. Four-gallon plastic containers were also chosen to replace the iron oil drums. The cages were made of eighteen-twine knotted polyethylene netting material of 2.54 cm (ca. 1 in.) mesh. The dimension of the cages is 3.05 m × 2.44 m (ca. 10 ft × 10 ft × 8 ft). There was not much evidence of fouling on the cage or on the oil drum, but a substantial amount of silt was observed clogging the mesh of the cages. This could be brought down by riverine waters and/or due to the vigorous mixing of riverine and marine waters.
The culture site is managed by a five-men team led by Mr. Rosdi Bin Josah. The team has directed the majority of their effort in the construction of rafts and cages at the time of visit, in addition to daily activities such as feed collection and feeding. Owing to the difficulties in operating the seine, fry collection could only be carried out whenever adequate amount of manpower was allocated to the team.
It was understood that there were 2 000 tails of fish stocked in the existing eight cages, with the estuarine grouper (Epinephelus tauvina) being the predominant species. The mangrove snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus), the Russell's snapper (Lutjanus russelli), the John's snapper (Lutjanus johnii), the giant sea perch (Lates calcarifer) and some rabbit fish (Siganus suctor) comprise the remaining of the stock. The size of these fishes ranges from approximately 100 to 900 g. However, the majority of the stock falls within the 100 to 200 g range. The stock was kept in assorted sizes and species within the same cage, resulting in considerable ecological stresses. The overall condition of the stock appeared to be healthy and free of noticeable symptoms of disease or abnormality. In the opinion of the author the equipment and facilities at the culture site were in good functional condition.
