Funded by the Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF), the three‑year project (May 2025 – April 2028), titled “Biodiversity of Marine Benthic Invertebrates in Malaysia”, brings together Malaysian researchers and leading scientists from Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science (NMNS) and several top Japanese universities.
The bilateral team is conducting comprehensive faunal inventories across two key marine corridors: the waters surrounding Gaya Island (Sabah) in the South China Sea, and Langkawi Island (Kedah) in the Straits of Malacca.
Research Focus and Approach
Although Southeast Asia’s Coral Triangle is globally recognised as a marine biodiversity hotspot, its vast communities of cryptic and large benthic organisms remain underexplored.
This project seeks to close that gap by focusing on dominant large benthic invertebrates, particularly echinoderms such as sea cucumbers, sea stars, sea urchins, and molluscs (shellfish).
The collaborative team is employing an integrative taxonomic approach that combines traditional morphological observations with advanced molecular sequencing. Beyond mapping species distributions, the research will generate critical DNA barcoding data.
This reference data will not only support future environmental DNA (eDNA) studies but will also provide essential baselines for sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in Malaysia.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
As part of its first‑year implementation plan, project members convened in Japan from 12 to 14 May 2026 for a specialised joint study workshop hosted at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba.
Building on the momentum of a capacity‑building workshop at CEMACS in Penang (November 2025) and subsequent field collection surveys in Langkawi (April 2026), the Tsukuba session brought together senior and early‑career researchers from both nations.
The workshop’s primary objective was to align research data, share preliminary findings from Malaysian specimens, and coordinate upcoming sampling strategies for the remaining two years of the grant.
Representing Malaysia, Dr. Abe Woo Sau Pinn (Project Co‑Lead, CEMACS, USM), Dr. Annette Jaya‑Ram (CEMACS, USM), and Muhammad Izzat Irfan (Science Officer, CEMACS, USM) participated in technical sessions alongside their Japanese counterparts, led by Principal Investigator, Professor Dr. Toshihiko Fujita.
Workshop Highlights
The intensive three‑day programme featured several core components designed to strengthen bilateral research and integration.
The team engaged in a series of scientific presentations offering detailed taxonomic updates on key marine organisms, including holothuroids, ophiuroids, asteroids, echinoids, ostracods, and parasitic gastropods.
Complementing these academic discussions, advanced laboratory tours provided participants with insights into state‑of‑the‑art specimen storage and research facilities at Tsukuba.
The agenda also incorporated a dedicated outreach component, including a visit to the permanent public exhibitions at the NMNS Ueno campus to evaluate effective science communication strategies.
The itinerary concluded with high‑level institutional meetings at the Meguro Parasitological Museum and the NEF headquarters, where the delegation met with NEF President, Professor Dr. Hiroshi Kohno.
Looking Ahead
Summarising the collaboration, Malaysia’s project lead Abe Woo expressed optimism for closer research ties with Japanese scientists, particularly in marine biodiversity, and emphasised the importance of nurturing a new generation of marine taxonomists in Malaysia.
“At its core, this NEF‑funded project is about sustainability through education.
“By establishing a modernised specimen storage and management framework at CEMACS, the project ensures that physical voucher specimens and digital genetic databases remain accessible to global researchers for the long term,” he said.
Through ongoing cross‑border exchanges, workshops, and upcoming public outreach initiatives, including a special educational exhibition and the publication of an illustrative book in 2028, USM and its Japanese partners are effectively passing the taxonomic baton to a new generation of scientists dedicated to safeguarding Malaysia’s rich marine heritage.
Text: Dr. Annette Jaya‑Ram, Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), USM/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe
