Image Credit: Copilot
By Fadzlina Abu Bakar Sidek
BUKIT GANTANG, May 31: Perak is setting its sights on expanding mussel (kupang) farming on a larger scale, with the state aiming for aggressive growth in aquaculture over the coming years.
Perak Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) director Ahmad Zulkifli Ismail said an application has been submitted to the state government for a new 72‑hectare site in Manjung Selatan, part of efforts to boost production under the Perak Blue Economy Roadmap, which is aligned with the Perak Sejahtera 2030 development plan.
“Mussel farming has strong commercial potential given rising consumer demand for fresh seafood,” he told Bernama during a visit to the Sungai Tinggi Fishermen’s Association project here.
Mussel farming in Perak began in 2015 with an initial RM150,000 allocation. Since then, the industry has received continued support from the state government. Over the past decade, projects that started on a small scale in Sungai Tinggi and Manjung Selatan have grown to produce more than 100 tonnes of mussels..
“Demand continues to grow, but current output is only about 500 kilogrammes per season, which is far below market needs. That is why expansion is a priority,” Ahmad Zulkifli said.
Seeds are sourced from Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, but Perak’s mussels are said to stand out for their sweeter flesh, a distinction attributed to the state’s higher‑salinity waters.
He explained that habitat, water quality and salinity levels play a key role in shaping the mussels’ flavour and growth. Weather changes and natural water conditions also influence yield and quality.
Sungai Tinggi Fishermen’s Association chairman Abu Salim Karim said about 50 participants are involved in mussel farming across 2.4 hectares in Sungai Tinggi and Manjung Selatan. Each cage contains around 500 mussel lines, with 10 cages currently in operation. Mussels take six to nine months to mature, and returns can reach up to three times the initial investment.
“We buy seeds at RM45 per line and can sell them for more than RM100 if properly maintained. A farmer investing RM4,000 in seeds could earn up to RM12,000,” he said. Weather and barnacle infestations remain the main challenges, requiring regular maintenance.
For farmer Ahmad Faney Mohamad Hashim, 49, mussel farming began as a side activity in 2016 but has since become a reliable source of income. He noted that mussels are easier to rear than fish, with survival rates of up to 90 per cent and fewer disease risks.
“Mussels feed naturally on plankton and organic matter carried by currents, so costs are lower compared to fish farming,” he said. One mussel line can yield 20 to 25 kilogrammes per cycle, depending on conditions, with average earnings of about RM1,000 per harvest.
- BERNAMA