Pekan: The National Fishermen's Association (NEKMAT) is looking into investing about RM300,000 to use artificial intelligence (AI) in its white shrimp farming project in Badong, Pekan (Pahang).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, its general manager Azrin Shah Ismail said the use of the technology would enable water quality, oxygen levels, temperature, and several other parameters to be monitored via sensors and smartphone applications. The technology can also determine the amount of food needed more accurately based on farming data.

Azrin Shah highlighted that acquiring more precise data could help avoid food waste and reduce pressure on the shrimp. He mentioned that if the power supply goes out or oxygen levels or any parameter changes, the system would provide warnings. This was discussed at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro-Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026.

Currently, the project's operations are carried out semi-manually, but NEKMAT intends to transition to a more automated system. Additionally, NEKMAT is constructing nine new ponds on an additional area of about 15 acres, involving an investment of RM5 million. The four existing ponds produced 58 tonnes of white shrimp worth RM1.4 million in 2025, with a recent harvest of eight tonnes worth RM180,000.

The project utilizes domestically produced shrimp feed and employs local labor from the Pekan area, Pahang, and its surroundings. Azrin Shah hopes that the integration of technology will attract more young people and graduates to the aquaculture industry by providing a more modern and organized work environment.

Furthermore, NEKMAT is open to collaborating with universities and related institutions to enhance the technology and project management system.