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KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continues to play its role in promoting sustainable development related to marine ecosystems and seafood production in the state said UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin.

He said that UMS is currently working on low carbon methods of managing marine resources and aquaculture systems by incorporating green and biomimetic perspectives in design and management systems.

“We have intensified efforts towards identifying ways and means of achieving sustainable development goals related to marine ecosystems and aquatic food production.

“We have also structured programmes for capacity development and empowerment of coastal communities with knowledge and exposure.”

He said this at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Marine Science and Aquaculture (Icomsa): Marine Biodiversity for Sustainable Management of Aquaculture and Ecosystem Services at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu.

A total of 122 international and local participants attended the event.

Kamarudin said that sustainable development at the national level would be achieved if the best implementation methods were identified and then shared with policymakers.

He also called on delegates and researchers at the conference to focus in the issue of sustainability and discuss strategies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Dr Daud Yusof, also  urged the delegates to establish links of  different components in marine biodiversity with specific marine ecosystem services to provide a holistic picture of what is at stake and what actions are needed.

Scientific opinions backed by compelling evidence and actual examples will weigh heavily in motivating public perception and policy making institutions to come on board in marine restoration and sustainable marine management.

“Researchers can play an important role in the national development stage if they can take efforts to link marine conservation and aquaculture with sustainable development and raising their voices through conferences and publications, he said.

Meanwhile at the event, UMS also entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea Institute of Biodiversity Marine and Taiwan’s National Marine Science and Technology Museum to share knowledge and expertise in the sustainable development of marine ecosystems.