When Izwandy Idris fell in love with polychaete - baitworms or bloodworms - during his PhD, many people wondered why he wanted to specialise in worms, instead of more iconic marine species like whales and dolphins. Now, as Professor at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment at the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, he is still a passionate advocate for the many virtues of the humble bloodworm. "They can be very useful and perhaps make you rich as well," he says. Fish farms, the biosynthesis of nanoparticles, and applications in human medicine could transform what at present is a 4D job - Dirty, Dangerous, Damaging and Disturbing - into profitable local employment opportunities. Well-informed environmental management can lead to economic progress.
Yes, polychaete are widely used as fish bait, but are also a valuable food stock for the aquaculture industry, because of their high polyunsaturated fat content, which promotes the development of juveniles and increases fish farm yields. Less well known is their ability to synthesise nanoparticles of silver and gold, which have antimicrobial, catalytic, pharmaceutical and electrical conductivity properties. Research show that polychaete have wound-healing capability, like their close relative the leech, and that their blood can be used as a human blood substitute, of great value in organ transplants and blood transfusions. Some Pacific Islanders also eat polychaete and organise feasts during the spawning season. When the world is looking for alternate sources of protein without cutting down forests to raise more livestock, polychaete represent a more sustainable alternative, even if a bit salty.
When Izwandy Idris fell in love with polychaete - baitworms or bloodworms - during his PhD, many people wondered why he wanted to specialise in worms, instead of more iconic marine species like whales and dolphins. Now, as Professor at the Institute of Oceanography and Environment at the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, he is still a passionate advocate for the many virtues of the humble bloodworm. "They can be very useful and perhaps make you rich as well," he says. Fish farms, the biosynthesis of nanoparticles, and applications in human medicine could transform what at present is a 4D job - Dirty, Dangerous, Damaging and Disturbing - into profitable local employment opportunities. Well-informed environmental management can lead to economic progress.
Yes, polychaete are widely used as fish bait, but are also a valuable food stock for the aquaculture industry, because of their high polyunsaturated fat content, which promotes the development of juveniles and increases fish farm yields. Less well known is their ability to synthesise nanoparticles of silver and gold, which have antimicrobial, catalytic, pharmaceutical and electrical conductivity properties. Research show that polychaete have wound-healing capability, like their close relative the leech, and that their blood can be used as a human blood substitute, of great value in organ transplants and blood transfusions. Some Pacific Islanders also eat polychaete and organise feasts during the spawning season. When the world is looking for alternate sources of protein without cutting down forests to raise more livestock, polychaete represent a more sustainable alternative, even if a bit salty.