In 1965, the Malaysian Government established the Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department (JPLS) to develop and manage marine and brackish water fisheries in Sarawak. There is a research branch under the JPLS which is responsible for carrying out strategic R&D in fisheries resources and fishing technology to support fisheries management in Sarawak. In 1980, R&D activities were expanded to include aquaculture in order to accommodate aquaculture development in potential areas in Sarawak. In 1995, this research branch was put under the jurisdiction of the Fisheries Research Institute, Department of Fisheries Malaysia, with its new name, Sarawak and Labuan Regional Fisheries Research Institute (or FRI Bintawa).
Currently, there are 4 main branches at FRI Bintawa, namely Fisheries Resources, Aquaculture, Ecosystem, Quality and Food Safety. FRI Bintawa also manages the Pulau Layang Layang Marine Research Station (MARSAL) and the Santubong Fisheries Research Institute (FRI Santubong). MARSAL was established by the Department of Fisheries in 2004 to implement R&D In the ecosystem surrounding Pulau Layang Layang including Semarang Peninjau Cluster, while IPPS was commenced in the year 2010 to empower aquaculture research in Sarawak. In 2023, the total workforce at FRI Bintawa consists of 10 research officers and 46 support staff. A total of RM16 million has been received to carry out R&D in Sarawak and Labuan in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Management of marine fisheries resources in Sarawak, Sabah and WP Labuan
Development of a coral garden in the lagoon of Pulau Layang-Layang
Assessment of corals and giant clams’ distribution at Pulau Layang-Layang
Development of broodstock, spawning and culture of giant freshwater prawn
Fish/shrimp health control in aquaculture
Documentation of Sarawak’s latest potential fishery resources
Determination of the capacity and status of fishery resources including oceanic tuna in Sarawak waters
Adoption of the status of fishery resources in artificial reef in the formulation of the Fisheries Management Plan in Sarawak waters
Determination of the latest information on 13 commercial species exploitation status and spawning seasons
Preparation of documentation and data for the gazettement of Pulau Layang Layang
Recognition from Malaysia Book of Record for First Suspended Technique Coral Planting category, 21 – 25 June 2019
Reduction in time and cost for the detection of the fish/shrimp health status – through the automation of histological slide reading methods from subjective to quantitative.
Production of a 1-hectare coral garden with 8 coral propagation designs, namely (1) Reef ball, (2) A Frame (3) Coral Frame (4) Using rope (5) Versatile Fencing (6) Tank reefs (7) BRC reef (8) Metal frame scaffolding reef in Pulau Layang-Layang.
The establishment and gazettement of a tiger prawn refugia (Penaeus monodon) in Kuala Baram, Miri, Sarawak, which is the regulation of the closure of the tiger prawn catch area for 3 months (August to October) every year, has been included in the license conditions and has started in 2023
