The purpose of this paper is to discuss the economic viability and highlight the problems involved in marine fish cage culture operation presently undertaken in two localities in the State of Penang, Malaysia. The study was made in Penang because it was there that the first marine fish cage culture in the country was initiated (in 1973). Penang also recorded the largest number of marine cage culturists in 1984 (128 culturists).
| Cage Culture | |||
| State | Freshwater | Brackish Water/Marine | Total |
| Kedah | 5 | 32 | 37 |
| Penang | 12 | 128 | 140 |
| Perak | 37 | 56 | 93 |
| Selangor | 2 | 55 | 57 |
| Negeri Sembilan | 1 | - | 1 |
| Melaka | 124 | - | 124 |
| Johor | 5 | 113 | 118 |
| Pahang | 5 | - | 5 |
| Terengganu | 8 | 19 | 27 |
| Kelantan | 45 | - | 45 |
| TOTAL | 244 | 403 | 647 |
Source: Fisheries Department Statistics, 1984
The localities chosen for this study were the Penang east coast and the Bukit Tambun area as in Map 1.
The Penang east coast culturists started operation five to ten years ago whereas the Bukit Tambun culturists started only two to five years.
The total number of groups of culturists in the Penang east coast were 7 in Weld Quay, 4 in Jelutong and 2 in Batu Maung. The Jelutong area was the first to initiate cage culture using locally available fingerlings of grouper (Kerapu) Epinephelus tauvina and golden snapper (Jenahak) Lutianus johni. The culture methodology was developed for grouper in 1974. Utilising the technical research findings of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (U.S.M). The sea bass (siakap) Lates calcarifer was also cultured by all culturist in the three sites. The Penang east coast was protected from the strong tidal current and storm but the water was littered by sewerage discharge.
On the other hand, the Bukit Tambun area was more exposed to strong tidal current and monsoonal storm; it was deeper and the water was less littered. Cage culture was initiated in 1980 at the river mouth of Sungai Tengah one group of culturists. Due to seasonal rain which reduced the water salinity to zero, the project was moved seawards three times until finally its present site was chosen. There were 21 groups of culturists in the present site between Sungai Tengah and Pulau Aman. One group of culturists rearing only sea bass was still at the former site by the river mouth. The hardy specie, red snapper (Siakap Merah) Lutianus argentimaculatus was also cultured by one of the respondents and all the respondents culture grouper and sea bass.
MAP 1 : LOCATION OF THE COMMERCIAL FISH CAGE CULTURE FARMS IN PENANG, MALAYSIA
