Zamani (second from right) picking up a large tiger prawn shown to him by Greater Asia Seafood Sdn Bhd deputy director Datuk Nasir Baba (left).
JOHOR BARU: Johor Fisheries Department (DOF) is committed to take the local prawn farming industry to a higher level and increase supply.
Its director Zamani Omar said the state government had allocated RM1.5mil to the department, with 30% channeled to the prawn farming industry in Johor.
“This is one of our aims. We want to meet the demand for prawns in the local market.
“We currently have about 283ha of land at Bio-Desaru, Kota Tinggi that focuses on developing our agricultural economy,” he said after visiting frozen seafood factory Greater Asia Seafood Sdn Bhd in Pasir Gudang Industrial Area here.
Zamani said the department also planned to export about 70% of total prawn production and have more local entrepreneurs for the export industry.
He said prawn production in the state increased last year with 6,375 tonnes compared to 5,986 tonnes in 2018.
He said currently Johor exports prawns to South Korea, France and Monaco.
“However, our prawn exports to these countries have dropped slightly from 85 tonnes in 2018 to 71 tonnes last year,” he said, hoping to increase the figures this year.
Zamani said Greater Asia seafood has been producing Black Tiger Frozen Prawn, Black Tiger Cooked Shrimp, Vannamei Raw Frozen Shrimp and Vannamei Cooked Shrimp Frozen Seafood.
It has been operating since 2010 and exporting aquaculture products to few countries including Australia, China, Japan and some in Europe.
As the sole Malaysian exporter of Black Tiger Prawn or penaeus monodon to Australia, the company has maintained its product quality up to the standard, following DOF standard requirement.
The laboratory test was carried out by a certified lab accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia.
Besides that, the company has received recognition from the Health Ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Division for products that are free from prohibited antibiotics and are safe to consume.
Its director Zamani Omar said the state government had allocated RM1.5mil to the department, with 30% channeled to the prawn farming industry in Johor.
“This is one of our aims. We want to meet the demand for prawns in the local market.
“We currently have about 283ha of land at Bio-Desaru, Kota Tinggi that focuses on developing our agricultural economy,” he said after visiting frozen seafood factory Greater Asia Seafood Sdn Bhd in Pasir Gudang Industrial Area here.
Zamani said the department also planned to export about 70% of total prawn production and have more local entrepreneurs for the export industry.
He said prawn production in the state increased last year with 6,375 tonnes compared to 5,986 tonnes in 2018.
He said currently Johor exports prawns to South Korea, France and Monaco.
“However, our prawn exports to these countries have dropped slightly from 85 tonnes in 2018 to 71 tonnes last year,” he said, hoping to increase the figures this year.
Zamani said Greater Asia seafood has been producing Black Tiger Frozen Prawn, Black Tiger Cooked Shrimp, Vannamei Raw Frozen Shrimp and Vannamei Cooked Shrimp Frozen Seafood.
It has been operating since 2010 and exporting aquaculture products to few countries including Australia, China, Japan and some in Europe.
As the sole Malaysian exporter of Black Tiger Prawn or penaeus monodon to Australia, the company has maintained its product quality up to the standard, following DOF standard requirement.
The laboratory test was carried out by a certified lab accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia.
Besides that, the company has received recognition from the Health Ministry’s Food Safety and Quality Division for products that are free from prohibited antibiotics and are safe to consume.
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