Research Institutes, Centres and Units - Universiti Sains Malaysia

Centre for Marine & Coastal Studies
(CEMACS)
The Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) was established in August
1991 to undertake research and post-graduate training in Marine Science and Coastal
Ecosystems. It provides the institutional mechanism for mobilizing and integrating
the University’s considerable expertise and resources in marine science (which are
currently spread over a number of science and non-science teaching schools). The
main objective of CEMACS is to enhance the capability of conducting integrated inter-
and multi-disciplinary studies leading towards solving problems related to marine and
coastal ecosystems.
CEMACS is located at Teluk Bahang on the northwest coast of Penang Island in the
Penang National Park. The centre is served by a number of core academics working in
collaboration with research associates identified from other teaching schools as well
as from outside the University. The Centre has a number of key academics working in
collaboration with research associate identified from other teaching schools as well as
from outside the University. The centre’s international associate includes those from
Canada, Australia, USA, UK, Japan, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Australia, China
and Singapore. Associates of CEMACS are provided with direct access to the Centre’s
considerable research and training facilities.
Presently, research and training conducted at the Centre is focused on the following
areas, namely mariculture, intertidal and coastal ecosystem, coastal forest ecosystem
and mangrove ecosystem.
Mariculture Research
Mariculture or marine aquaculture is the main research activity. Culture on shrimp is
now being carried at the hatchery scale. The research focus on an integrated culture
of biofilter microalgae with shrimp as a novel approach Running seawater is provided
to hatchery as well as to laboratories that support the culture of both larvae and
adult broodstock.
CEMACS has its own algae culture collection and this collection includes few strains
of commercial living algae, representing most major algal taxa. The phytoplankton
laboratory where live algae being culture maintains pure line cultures for larval feed.
The algae culture in the collection is primary used for research, teaching, biotechnology
development and various other projects.