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@ Halal | September-October . 2021

The aquaculture sector , when developed properly , will create a lot of jobs , promoting economic growth and employment in rural areas , as well as revenue for the country . It is tough to admit , however , that our love of fish has frequently led to unsustainable management and practices in many aquaculture farms .

The industry continues to intensify and diversify . New species , methods and practices are introduced to increase profits , but not entirely without detrimental impact on the entire aquaculture ecosystem and the fishery products quality .

Can fish be not halal and toyyib ?

Aquaculture , like any other sector , involves costs that are mostly spent on feeding and maintaining optimal water quality . To reduce costs , some farms feed their fish with manure , animal carcasses , fish-by products , trash fish , and terrestrial animal by-products which include blood meal , feather meal , meat and bone meal .

There are also reports of fish being raised in sewage , and agricultural chemicals or industrial waste-contaminated water that puts the animal at risk of disease and crosscontamination with toxin and non-halal ingredients . These practices are not halal ( lawful ) nor toyyib ( good , clean , safe and wholesome ).

It is important to remember that foods and products that were originally halal or crafted with halal ingredients but were processed in an unclean environment with the risk of cross-contamination , or ingredients that were spoiled and contained toxins are considered non-toyyib .

BY DR NURHIDAYU AL-SAARI

AND

ANIS NAJIHA AHMAD

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HALAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING ( INHART ), INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

Covid-19 and aquatic pandemic : The toyyib-based disease management strategies

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for a stronger emphasis on better disease and outbreak management strategies , including in aquatic context . Aquaculture production takes place in a complex ecosystem that includes interactions between farmed fish , bacteria , viruses , parasites , and other animals and plants .

Current aquaculture practices however can unintentionally introduce an “ artificial ” environment that is not sustainable . Farmed fish are often crowded in captivity and exposed to various stressors , including :

• chemical stressors ,

• biological stressors such as territorial behaviour of the fish , overcrowding , introduction of non-native species and presence of pathogens and ,

• physical and procedural stressors during handling and shipping . The “ artificial ” environment and stressors encourage the unusual growth of pathogens and make disease outbreaks more feasible at any stage of fish life . Frequent outbreaks can drive small farms out of business and are detrimental to public health .

It is the aim of toyyib aquaculture practices to not only provide the highest quality of fish and seafood , but also sustainable production that is not damaging to the environment , while remaining profitable and viable for business .

This is partially achieved by integrating “ good ” aquaculture practices . While many countries are still debating what constitutes “ good ” aquaculture practices , Malaysia has provided guidelines for Good Aquaculture Practice ( GAqP ) under its Malaysian Standard MS 1998:2017 .

Many , if not all , of the local aquaculture farms are following the recommended practices , such as purchasing commercial feed and fish seed from authorised companies , setting proper water management , and adequate harvest and post-harvest handling .

However , disease and veterinary surveillance are not widely practiced . If an outbreak occurs , business value chains can easily be severely impacted . To this end , better disease management strategies should be in place and be laid as the groundwork for all farm operations and activities for the business to be toyyib and sustainable .

How to farm halal and toyyib fish ?

One may ask how we could farm fish that is not only halal but toyyib ? We have listed the seven most basic toyyib aquaculture practices that are rooted in “ good ” disease management for farm operators as a guide .

1 . Site selection Antibiotic residues from nearby animal farms , parasites that long reside in the soil or small animals , pesticides and industrial chemical spillover from nearby compounds , and polluted water resources are only a few examples that contribute to disease risk . Disease risk and burden associated with the production , distribution and use of aquatic food may be reduced by appropriate site selection within the aquaculture industrial zone ( AIZ ).

It is important to remember that foods and products that were originally halal or crafted with halal ingredients but were processed in an unclean environment with the risk of cross-contamination , or ingredients that were spoiled and contained toxins are considered nontoyyib . ”

2 . Quality seed and fish fry Healthy and well-maintained broodstock produce sufficient and high-quality seed that may have high immunity to resist diseases . That is why seed and fish fry need to be purchased from competent suppliers that are licenced and registered with the Department of Fisheries ( DoF ).

3 . Feed Proper , sufficient , and nutritious feeding are essential for fish growth and the development of a strong immune system . Oversupply of the nutrient not only increases production costs , but also causes water pollution , alters the water chemistry , and poses a serious health hazard to the entire fish population . Additionally , antimicrobial residues in the oversupplied fish feed can be taken up by bacteria , leading to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains that are no longer treatable with standard antibiotics .

4 . Water management Water quality should be monitored and maintained throughout the culture period . Low water quality can stress fish , making them more susceptible to diseases , reducing or slowing the growth performance , and more often than not , resulting in death .

5 . Routine disease surveillance and mitigation Rapid , and early disease detection are crucial for effective disease control and prompt treatment . Farm operators should be the frontliners of disease outbreaks detection , reporting the incidence or suspicion of disease and unusual death to the DoF . Antibiotics to treat diseased animals should be used with caution , under guidelines provided by the DoF . Instead of antibiotics , vaccines can be used as a safer alternative for disease prevention .

6 . Routine sanitation and biosecurity Measures to prevent diseases need to be implemented as part of the farm ’ s routine . These include disinfecting fish seed before adding it to the system , using separate and clean feeding equipment , quick removal of dead fish , using clean nets , limiting traffic in and out of the farm , and staff personal hygiene .

7 . Harvesting and post-harvesting handling The harvesting and post-harvesting activities must be completed as quickly as possible . The longer the process takes , the lower the product quality , and the higher chances for hazards and dangers of foodborne diseases .

These practices could help our local farms build resilience , towards sustainability in times of uncertainty .

Towards achieving halal and toyyib aquaculture practices

Humankind is ordained to use earth ’ s natural resources responsibly by safeguarding the rights and interests of its other inhabitants , including animals and future generations .

“… do not damage on the planet after it has been put in order ; that would be the most excellent for you , if you have faithfulness ”. [ Qur ’ an , Al-A ’ raf 7 : 85 ]

In the context of aquaculture that provides ample source of food to people , it is just rightful that the practices to be made sustainable . One way to do it is to put halal and toyyib based disease management strategies at the forefront of any aquaculture operation .

Afterall , like what William Ruckelshaus famously said : “ Nature does provide us a free lunch , but only if we control our appetite .” It is indeed incumbent on us to make the wisest decision .