The present study was conducted to know the biodiversity status and assess the existing livelihood conditions of the fishers of Habullah Baor at Bagherpara upazila, Jashore district from November 2017 to April 2018. Sixty fishermen were randomly selected for collecting data through a semi structured questionnaire. The current study discovered that there were 11 different fish species from six orders and seven families in the Habullah baor. All of the sampled fishermen were Hindu. About 25% of the fishermen was young aged, majority was middle aged and 25% was old aged group. A total of 75% of the fishermen had nuclear family and 25% families lived in joint family. Among the fishermen 85% had a few decimal of cultivable land and 15% were truly landless. Annual income of the respondents varied from 30,000 to 70,000 BDT with an average of 42,833 BDT. All fishers had access to drinking water from tube wells. Most of the fishers lived in katcha houses. About 15% of the fishers enjoyed electricity facilities in their home. Among the fishermen investigated, majority had earthen latrine, 20% used tin shed latrine, 8% used concrete latrine and a few of them 10% had no latrine. There were no modern medical facilities in the villages. The respondents had no alternate income sources during the dry season and at the time of ban period. The fishers as a whole are leading measurable life due to great financial hardship. Proper conservation and management measures can be taken to enhance the availability of fish fauna in Habullah baor, so that, the fishermen can harvest ample fish on sustainable basis. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2022, 8 (3), 165-180

The Bornean Spotted Barb is endemic fish species and widely distributed throughout Borneo in various freshwater bodies and can be considered as a potential aquaculture candidate for food security and the ornamental trade. However there has yet to be scientific studies on the early life history and developmental stages of this species. Thus the present study reveals the embryonic development of Puntius sealei embryo, from fertilization to post-hatching using the induced breeding method. The induced spawning on P. sealei using Ovaprim hormone at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg for females and 0.25ml/kg for males respectively was successfully conducted and the embryonic development of the fertilized eggs were observed. The zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, and larval phases were the six major stages of embryogenesis that investigated in this experiment. This study contributed major knowledge to the early developmental biology of this particular species. The information will be useful for accessing the potentiality of this species for aquaculture as well as the management, and production of the species. Asian Australas. J. Food Saf. Secur. 2021, 5 (2), 55-62

No abstract

The uses of indigenous plants vary amongst native communities, from being consumed as vegetables, used as flavourings or added as an aromatic enhancer. However, records of their traditional use are sparse and most of the native knowledge on applications of these indigenous plants has not been passed down to later generations. The present study aims to record and identify communal knowledge from the Central Region of Sarawak with regards to the use of indigenous plants as food flavourings or aromatic enhancers. Face-to-face interviews with 150 respondents were conducted in a semi-structured manner to obtain the required information. A total of 27 plant species from 20 families were identified for their use by native people as food flavouring or aromatic enhancement. Zingiberaceae was found to be the most prevalent family of plants in this study with a representation of four species. Leaves were the part of the plants most commonly utilized by natives for flavouring purposes with 12 species being utilized in this manner. The mode of cooking varies within the community according to a preference for taste and aroma intensity as well as inherited oral knowledge passed down from older generations. This study recommends a full nutrient content analysis for the identified plant species shortly.

The Malaysian water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, has traditionally been an important livestock for the local people of Sarawak. Buffalo, other ruminants, and non-ruminants are essential for the livestock industry as they supply the largest source of protein for the entire nation. Cattle provide the largest production in the livestock industry at 0.2%, followed by other ruminants, including goats (0.1%), sheep (0.04%), and buffalo (0.03%). Water buffalo, or 'kerbau sawah' as it is locally known, is an overlooked animal compared to other livestock. Amidst the growing demand for beef within the domestic consumer market, the buffalo population in Sarawak has risen over the past five years from 5,396 to 6,205 heads in 2019. However, the self-sufficiency level (SSL) of cattle and buffalo beef has dropped from 26% in 2013 to 21.6% in 2019 despite the rising demand for local produce. Malaysia continues to import frozen buffalo beef from India and live bovine from other countries to meet domestic demands and support the growth of the local buffalo industry. Due to this, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak introduced a buffalo yard program ('Natad Kerbau') to assist the state smallholder farmers in managing their buffaloes better. This paper focuses on describing the current status of buffalo production in Sarawak, its important functions (including provision for food security), and future prospects of B. bubalis in the livestock industry of Malaysia and Sarawak in particular.

Ylistrum balloti is one of the Pectinidae species distributed within the Indo-Pacific region. Recently, 15 live specimens of Y. balloti were recorded from the continental shelf of Sarawak, Malaysia. The main morphological characteristics were displayed on the outer valve, these being a brown-red colour and a clear concentric pattern of thin brown lines. The prominent internal ribbing numbers on both valves also helped species identification. The preliminary report of Y. balloti revealed that the species is present in Sarawak waters and can be further explored in the future.

The agriculture industry is widely believed to be essential to the nation's long-term growth and prosperity. In many ways, including via enhanced food security, employment, and economic growth, the agricultural sector as a whole and fisheries in particular have made significant contributions to enhancing people's health and well-being. A variety of measures may be used to determine the financial health of the fish farms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the financial viability of fish pond farming and to ascertain its advantages and disadvantages. From the Taltoli upazila in the Barguna area, sixty pond fish breeders were randomly selected. These figures allow us to calculate the gross cost of producing pond fish per hectare to be 1378806 BDT, the gross return to be 2125023 BDT, and the net return to be 746217 BDT. The findings of this study proved that pond fish farming was a profitable endeavor in the region that was being studied. The Cobb-Douglas production function was further employed in order to better comprehend the part that each variable in the production of pond fish plays. The majority of the taken into account factors were demonstrated to have a considerable impact on fish productivity. The returns on pond fish production were positively and statistically significantly impacted by four of the six parameters studied. To improve the management and cultivation of pond fish farming, certain recommendations were made. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. 2022, 8 (4), 240-250