Simren Kaur The Star 22 Jun 11;
UNIVERSITI Sains Malaysia (USM) has discovered a new method to breed two types of sea cucumbers.
USM’s School of Health Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Farid Che Ghazali said researchers had discovered new methods to breed the Stichopus vastus and Stichopus horrens sea cucumbers.
“With the discovery, entrepreneurs can now kill two birds with one stone by helping to breed the sea cucumbers to save it from extinction and also to boost economy by exporting them for their medicinal values,” he said at a press conference at USM to announce the discovery.
He said sea cucumber produces high proportions of sulphated polysaccharides, glycoproteins and lectins which can treat arthritis, cancer and for HIV therapy.
Dr Farid also said sea cucumber breeding is a traditional industry but since it became a lucrative industry in China, entrepreneurs are encouraged to venture into it for export purposes.
He explained that the new breeding method was developed using the hatchery technique at the Fishery Research Institutes (FRI) in Tanjung Demong, Terengganu and Kampung Pulau Sayak, Kedah.
“This technique involves various processes such as broodstock harvesting, induced spawning, sexual and asexual propagations and larval rearing,” he said.
Entrepreneurs who are interested to learn the technique can write to USM’s Innovation Office to arrange for a meeting.
It was announced during the press conference that Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will launch USM’s four-day annual National Research and Innovation Competition (NRIC) which begins today.
Themed ‘World Class Research and Innovation For Tomorrow’s Sustainability’, the competition will see participants from the University of Brunei Darulsalam and Jefri Bolkiah Engineering Institute, and University of Technology Thonbur from Thailand taking part.
A new category — the Community Research and Innovation Competition will be introduced this year in addition to the previous categories such as the Engineering and Technology, Fundamental Sciences, Information Technology and Communication, Life Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences and Social Transformation and Creative Arts.
The competition is sponsored by the Motorola Foundation.
