Declining shrimp population affecting Melaka’s belacan industry, says Norhizam

MELAKA: The Melaka government is hoping to save its traditional "belacan" (shrimp paste) industry by looking into aquaculture techniques to address the shortage of the marine species along the historic city's coastlines.

State agriculture, agro-based, entrepreneur development and cooperative committee chairman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee said the declining population of geragau (krill-like prawns) has a cascading effect on the belacan production that is one of the most prosperous cottage industries in the state.