August 15, 2007

Brunei hopes aquaculture would bring exports or self-sufficiency

Brunei is hoping to establish a niche for itself in the aquaculture business and lessen its dependence on seafood imports. 

The country would focus on shrimp aquaculture as its target area, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah bin Hj Abd Wahab, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, said at the opening ceremony of the International Shrimp Health Workshop recently.

Brunei is now developing an aquaculture park called Telisai Phase II to implement new aquaculture technologies.

Brunei has the potential to produce US$200 million worth of aquaculture products each year, but it is still importing half its fish requirements, the minister said.

The country consumes 45 kg of seafood per person a year, or 16 million tonnes per year, one of the highest in Asean.

That level of fish consumption is currently twice the country's output.

The Department of Fisheries is enhancing regulatory oversight of the sector and encouraging participation of the private sector in the decision-making and self-regulation process, the minister said.

To improve the competitiveness of local shrimp farmers, the Department of Fisheries has initiated a three-year renewable project with Integrated Aquaculture International, a US-based aquaculture technology company.