Kuala Nerus—Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) hosted the 1st International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Symposium and Red List Assessment 2018, plus a workshop on Sciaenidae assessment. UMT organised the symposium through its Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS) in collaboration with National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium (NMMBA), Taiwan.

In line with the theme Ensuring species and ecosystem conservation for the future: Theory, challenges and practices, the objectives of the symposium were to acquire specific knowledge on the process of the assessment of different endangered species from national to international level, and to understand the most updated situation of the threatened and endangered species on the regional and international level.

UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Nor Aieni Haji Mokhtar in her speech said that International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has become the global standard for assessing the global conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species.

“This symposium also gathered local researchers and academicians where the plenary speaker is from Malaysia and keynote speakers from USA and China. In addition, invited speakers from Bangladesh, Myanmar, South Africa, Brazil, China and other countries are taking part in this symposium.”

“Beside gathering researchers and academicians,  this symposium also intends to foster ecosystem of research idea sharing as well as creating collaborative network.”

According to Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Minister of Water, Land, and Natural Resources, environmental issues are not new and as a matter of fact have become more serious. Regular and micro plastic pollutions in the ocean have threatened the lives of beings in the ocean and ashore. We have failed to respect the lives and ecosystem of others and failed to take care of the earth that we borrowed from our younger generation.

The symposium’s officiating ceremony was done by Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Minister of Water, Land, and Natural Resources.

A workshop on Sciaenidae assessment wa held 27-28 September. Sciaenidae is a scientific name for ikan gelama in Malaysia. This fish normally can be found at tropical beaches, estuary, and shallow waters.

In 2016, Global Sciaenidae Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Sciaenidae Red List have identified sixty species that will be used for identifying the threatened species in the ocean.

According to Professor Nor Aieni further, knowledge and scientific research on threatened species become the anchor in pioneering and creating research and future conservation of the species. It is hoped that this symposium creates opportunities for researchers and academicians to share knowledge and expand research in the field of threatened species.

Prepared by:

Corporate Communication Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu