MENTERI Besar Negeri Sembilan (Inc) (MBINS), in collaboration with Narque N9 Aquaculture Sdn Bhd (NNASB), will carry out a jade perch farming project in the Jelebu district involving an investment of RM1 billion over 15 years.

The joint venture on 22.26ha in Kg Jelondong, Glami Lemi, is set to be one of the biggest jade perch farming projects in Southeast Asia, Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun said.

MBINS sealed the agreement for the project with NNASB today.

Work to set up the farm will start next month and is expected to be completed by March next year, he said.

“The project will involve collaboration with various government departments and agencies, with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia agreeing to do research and development in the industry,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting today.

“It has also attracted the interest of several influential individuals who will assist in raising the livestock quality and meeting the standards for international certification.”

He said the fish has a market price of between RM70 and RM80 per kg.

“The fish takes 10 months to mature (for harvesting),” he said.

Aminuddin said the project can make an impact on the local economy by providing job opportunities and increasing business activities along the value chain.

According to him, a study by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation of Australia found that jade perch (common name: barcoo grunter), which originates from Queensland, has the highest Omega-3 oil level compared with other types of seafood. – Bernama, September 22, 2021.