Aquaculture is farming or cultivation of aquatic organisms including the aquatic plants under controlled condition. Since the start of the 20^th century, aquaculture and agriculture were appeared contemporary phenomenon. In 2004, the production of fishes based on aquaculture was contributed about 32% or 45.5 millions tones of the total world production which is 140.5 million tonnes (The State of World Fisheries and aquaculture, 2007).

The principal form of aquaculture - fish farming uses a controlled environment which is usually a pond or tank to breed and raise fish until they reach the desired size for harvesting. Fish farming offers an alternative solution to the increasing market demand for fish and fish protein. The use of crossbreeding and genetic engineering in fish farming could increase the yields which are able to fulfill the demand from consumer. Besides that, aquaculture can be used effectively to remove pressure from overharvested fisheries and thus, it can help to sustain marine biodiversity. Basically, there are two major types of aquaculture on fish. Fish farming is one of it. Another type is fish ranching; it holds fish in captivity for the first few years of their lives then releases them and followed by the harvests of the adults when they return to breed. This practice is commonly used with salmon as these fish almost always return to the exact location of their birth for breeding.

In early 2009, the researchers of the aquaculture unit of M.I.B. had been granted with fund from Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to identify the control mechanisms of sexual reproduction in Moina macrocopa, known as water flea. Moina macrocopa had short generation time but high reproductive rates, so it acts as an important live food in larviculture industry. Identification of the control mechanisms for the reproduction in Moina macrocopa will enhance the biotechnology of mass production of diapausing eggs. The diapausing eggs of Moina macrocopa can potentially substitute the brine shrimp, Artemia cyst. Indirectly, it can reduce the production cost for many freshwater fish cultures. However, the population of Moina macrocopa has (parthenogenesis) asexual and (gametogenesis) sexual reproduction. Normally, all female are produced due to the parthenogenesis. Under undesirable environmental conditions, males are produced under gametogenesis and resulting the diapausing eggs. Juvenile hormone is used to study on whether is suitable factor for inducing gametogenesis reproduction. If juvenile hormone is proven succeed to induce gametogenesis reproduction, the result can be used to develop biotechnology for mass production of diapausing eggs of Moina macrocopa.

Besides that, aquaculture unit at M.I.B will sooner engage in a research related with mud crab larvae culture in hatchery. So far, crab fattening is carried out in Malaysia in a limited way, using either ponds or cage. The principal constraint in the expansion of this activity is lack of seed or stockable crab. Crab collected from the wild varies in size, age and with the seasons. Imported crab seed also fluctuates in price. This hinders the development of large-scale crab culture, although there is sufficient market demand.

In an attempt to solve the seed supply problem, M.I.B taken its first step to produce mud crab larvae in hatchery. Aspects such as fasten the maturation, spawning and larvae quality management will be the key points of the study. The findings of the study will lead to develop a mud crab larvae production techniques and principles which can be adopted in Malaysia. This success may help to produce many mud crab larvae producing aquaculturist and indirectly cater the increasing demand on mud crab larvae in Malaysia.