USM Educational Outreach on Sustainable Fisheries and Ocean Stewardship

Universiti Sains Malaysia through the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), plays a vital role in offering free educational outreach activities for local and national communities to raise awareness about overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and destructive fishing practices. These outreach efforts are designed to enhance public understanding of the importance of sustainable marine resource management and ocean health.

In 2024, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai, Director of CEMACS, contributed to the global scientific dialogue on sustainable aquaculture through the 22nd NANO–DOAP Webinar on “Effects of Ocean Acidification on Oyster Aquaculture.” Her session highlighted how ocean acidification and destructive fishing threaten shellfish growth, reproduction, and survival, critical issues that endanger biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods in coastal communities. By translating complex research into accessible knowledge, USM empowers communities to understand the long-term consequences of unsustainable and illegal fishing practices, and the importance of sustainable aquaculture as an alternative livelihood

CEMACS also extends this educational mission to youth through its Marine Field Course: Biodiversity and Conservation, a hands-on learning programme that connects students directly with real marine ecosystems. During a four-day field course held in Penang, 35 students from Kolej Yayasan UEM explored seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove habitats while learning about sustainable fishing practices and responsible aquaculture management. The visit to Tiram Sungai Merbok, a model for sustainable oyster farming, demonstrated how regulated aquaculture can reduce dependence on wild stocks and mitigate the impacts of overfishing.

Through such free, community-oriented educational programmes, USM integrates research, teaching, and outreach to cultivate marine literacy among students, fishers, and the public. These initiatives foster a deeper appreciation of ecosystem interconnectivity and responsible ocean stewardship, ensuring that communities are equipped with the knowledge to combat overfishing and protect marine biodiversity.

USM’s commitment through CEMACS reflects its strong leadership in collaborating with communities to maintain healthy shared aquatic ecosystems, reinforcing Malaysia’s contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14: Life Below Water).