On November 20, 2025, the “JIRCAS–FRI Joint 30 Years Anniversary Symposium: Findings from ecological and aquaculture research mainly focused on mangrove estuary areas in Peninsular Malaysia” was held in Penang, Malaysia.

The symposium was organized to commemorate a milestone—the 30 years of continuous international collaborative research between the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) of Malaysia, which began in 1995—while also reviewing past achievements and sharing future research directions.

More than 50 participants, including researchers and representatives from related institutions in both countries as well as online attendees, joined the event. Six presentations were delivered, highlighting the progress made over the 30-year collaboration, including technology development, improvements in aquaculture techniques, and the accumulation of scientific knowledge. In particular, efforts toward sustainable fisheries development in mangrove brackish-water environments and contributions to local communities were emphasized.

Two researchers who served as counterpart scientists in the early joint research projects—and who have since retired from FRI—also took part, sharing their reflections on the collaborative work and its significance. Participants noted that “decades of cooperation have built a foundation of international trust and supported technical exchange and development in both countries,” reaffirming the importance of international collaboration.