PENANG, 5 February 2026 – A collaborative survey of marine fishes around Penang’s islands (‘pulau’) and mainland (‘seberang’) was conducted from 19th to 23rd January 2026, marking the first phase of the “Marine Fishes of Penang” book project.

The expedition is a joint effort between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), aimed at documenting Penang’s rich marine biodiversity.

The USM team, led by Dr. Norhafiz Hanafi Ahmad Shah (School of Biological Sciences) with post-graduate students Lau Qi Jin, Tan Yu Yang, Muhammad Khairul Adni Mohd Khir, and Amir Azren Azman, collaborated with the UMT team led by Associate Professor Dr. Seah Ying Giat, alongside Sharol Ali, Nuralif Fakhrullah Mohd Nur, and Siti Asmal Mat Piah from the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences.

Surveying 20 sampling sites, the team collected approximately 200 marine fish species. Activities included field sampling, identification, processing, and preservation.

All specimens are catalogued under the USM Fish Collection voucher system at the Makmal Rujukan Zoologi, Kompleks Rujukan Biodiversiti (D32), School of Biological Sciences, USM serving as long-term reference material for the book.

Photographs of collection, identification, and preservation were also taken to document the process.

Commenting on the findings, Norhafiz said: "The diversity of marine fishes collected during this preliminary expedition is highly encouraging and provides a solid foundation for the Marine Fishes of Penang book.”

“The collaboration between USM and UMT has been exemplary, with each team bringing unique expertise and dedication to the fieldwork. This partnership strengthens research capacity and enhances our understanding of Penang’s marine biodiversity. We look forward to continuing this effort with further surveys and international collaboration in the coming months," he added.

Highlighting geographical patterns, Seah noted: "Our preliminary findings reveal distinct differences between island and mainland sites. Island habitats host a higher diversity of reef-associated species, while the mainland or seberang coasts are rich in estuarine and nearshore species. Understanding these variations is crucial for documenting the full spectrum of Penang’s marine biodiversity."

Norhafiz added: “This preliminary expedition is the first of several, with sampling efforts continuing until July 2026. Japanese collaborators will join upcoming surveys, expected to expand both the number of sites and the diversity of marine species recorded.”

The project reflects the strong partnership between USM and UMT in advancing marine research and creating an authoritative reference for researchers, students, and conservationists alike.

Text & Photos: Dr. Norhafiz Hanafi Ahmad Shah, School of Biological Sciences, USM