Biography

Lirong Yu Abit is an accomplished aquaculture and fisheries professional with two decades of both industrial and academic experience. Today, his work brings together university teaching, aquaculture research, laboratory management, scientific publication, professional consultancy, and business development. His continued involvement in research on aquatic aquaculture nutrition, crustacean husbandry, larval fish production, fisheries, and sustainable aquaculture demonstrates his ongoing contribution to a field that is increasingly important for global food security, environmental sustainability, and the responsible use of aquatic resources. He currently works as an Assistant Professor at Xiamen University Malaysia contributing to research and innovation in aquaculture.

Research Interest

• Aquaculture systems
• Aquaculture Nutrition
• Fish and crustacean reproduction
• Fish and crustacean biodiversity

Educational Background

• PhD (Fisheries Science), Universiti Putra Malaysia (2026)
• MSc (Fisheries Science), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (2020)
• BSc (Aquatic Biology), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia (2001)

Working Experience

• Assistant Professor – China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) (current)
• Lecturer and Technical Manager – Curtin Aquaculture Research Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia (October 2023 – November 2026)
• Part-time Lecturer/Teaching Fellow – Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) (2015 – 2023)
• Lead Aquaculture Consultant – Konsortium Bumi Sdn. Bhd. (three-month project: Loba Stoh Aquaculture Research Station Masterplan) (2015)
• Head of Fisheries Department/Senior Fisheries Officer – SALCRA, Sarawak (2012 – 2014)
• Chief Technical Officer – Aqua Ventures Sdn. Bhd., Kenyir, Kuala Terengganu (Floating Fish Cage Culture) (2010 – 2012)
• Research Manager – Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) (2006 – 2009)
• Replacement Teacher – SK Spaoh, Sarawak (three months) (2006)
• Tutor/Demonstrator (Contract) – Department of Aquaculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang (2004 – 2005)
• Research Officer (Contract; IGS and IRPA Project Grants) – Department of Agriculture Sarawak, Inland Fisheries Division, Sematan (2001 – 2004)
• Temporary Teacher – SMB St. Joseph, Kuching (2000 – 2001)

Research Experience

• Project Leader – “Impact of chitosan from black soldier fly larvae on growth performance and immunocompetence of freshwater giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)”. CMRI-CRS, Curtin University Malaysia (December 2023 – December 2025); MYR 30,000; Project No. CMRI004050; funded under Curtin Perth, Australia.

• Project Member – “Internet of Things (IoT) Continuous Monitoring of Ammonium, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)”. SDEC Strategic Collaboration Research Grant, Sarawak State Government (December 2023 – December 2027); MYR 192,520; Curtin University Malaysia.

• Project Member – “Diversity of Decapod Crustaceans in Curtin Lake”. Curtin Malaysia Start-up Fund (February 2024 – February 2025); MYR 3,000; Curtin University Malaysia.

• Project Member – “Ecological Risk Assessment of Produced Water at Miri Crude Oil Terminal”. PETRONAS–DHI (March 2025 – August 2025); RM 250,000.

• Section Leader (Aquatic Environment and Fisheries) – “Feasibility Study for the Development of Murum Conservation Island as a Net Zero Ecotourism Destination”. SEB-ENVISAR (October 2025 – October 2026); RM 250,000.

Representative Publications

• Peter, S., Zulkiffle, M. Z., Kamaludeen, J., Paul, B. T., Ali Hanafiah, M. H. M., Morni, W. Z. W., Mohamad, N. F. A., Yu Abit, Lirong, Peter, J., James, C. B., & Mustafa, S. (2026). Antimicrobial resistance pattern in farm-raised tilapia: A study in north Sarawak, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 22(3), 317. https://doi.org/10.21161/mjm.251056

• Pandey, A., Fotedar, R., Lee, Y. N., & Yu Abit, Lirong. (2026). Growth and immunomodulation in individually reared giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879), as a function of dietary chitosan extracted from black soldier fly larvae. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 57(3), e70117. https://doi.org/10.1111/jwas.70117

• Sulaiman, M. A., Lee, Y. N., Amin, S. M. N., Yu Abit, Lirong, Narayanan, S. R., & Fotedar, R. (2026). Culturing freshwater crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) in a static biofloc culture system based on fruit-wastes: Effects on growth, nutrient composition and bioeconomics. Aquacultural Engineering, 102750.

• Yu Abit, Lirong, Wan, K. L., Hussain, S. S. S., & Kamaludeen, J. (2025). Predictors of health awareness regarding the consumption of tuak amongst the people of longhouses in Malaysia. Food Research, 9(6), 152–162.

• Yu Abit, Lirong, Ikhsan, N. F. M., Ismail, M. F. S., & Latif, K. (2025). Sensory evaluation and proximate composition of the mangrove stone crab (Myomenippe hardwickii) claw meat. Food Research, 9(5), 18–22.

• Pandey, A., Riyaz, R., Moh, J. H. Z., Lee, Y. N., Yu Abit, Lirong, & Fotedar, R. (2025). Variability in growth and moulting of early post-larval prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, fed with enriched Artemia. Aquaculture International, 33(4), 289.

• Yu Abit, Lirong, Nasir, A. S. A., Grinang, J., & Latif, K. (2024). Effectiveness of two synthetic hormones (LHRHA and Ovaprim) on induced breeding of the Bornean spotted barb, Puntius sealei (Herre, 1933). Journal of Aquatic Research and Sustainability, 1(2), 23–27.

• Yu Abit, Lirong, Moh, J. H. Z., Grinang, J., Morni, W. Z. W., Al-Asif, A., & Latif, K. (2024). First report of hard shell female mating in the crenate swimming crab, Thalamita crenata Ruppell, 1830 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae). Aquatic Invertebrates and Ecosystem Research, 1(1), 21–25.

• Islam Mondial, A. A. A. M., Yu Abit, Lirong, & Siddiqui, A. A. M. (2024). Fish to Finance: Unraveling the economic threads of Bangladesh's Blue Economy. Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 10(1), 9–41.

• Yu Abit, Lirong, Christianus, A., Kamarudin, M. S., Grinang, J., & Latif, K. (2022). The embryonic development of the Giant Freshwater Mountain Crab (Isolapotamon bauense) (Ng, 1987). Malaysian Fisheries Journal, 21(i), 1–6.

• Jamil, M. S., Newaz Sharif, B. M., Yu Abit, Lirong, & Miah, M. I. (2022). Fish biodiversity and livelihood of fishermen at an oxbow lake of South-West Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 8(3), 165–180.

For a complete and up-to-date list of publications, please refer to Dr Lirong Yu Abit's Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8kohV2AAAAAJ&hl=en

Honors / Awards

• Gold Medal Putra Inno-creative Competition IPICTL 2023