June 9, 2010

The aquaculture industry in Brunei should exercise greater care in order to maintain the sustainability of fish resources in the country, said a government official at the launch of the World Oceans Day.

In recent times, the majority of the marine ecosystems, including fishery resources, have been destroyed by overfishing and prohibited fishing activities.

The practitioners involved use equipment that can damage fishery resources, cause marine pollution and so on. This was stated in a speech by the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, as guest of honour at the launch of the World Oceans Day.

In Brunei, he added, the seas also play an important role to the citizens and residents of the country, who benefit from waters covering an area of 41,000 square kilometres and a 161-kilometre coastline. Taking advantage of the opportunities to develop the fisheries industry as a food resource, the Department of Fisheries have since 1984 issued fishing licences to various fishing vessels in Zones 2 and 3.

Citing early research by the department, the minister said that after 20 years, signs of the occurrence of overfishing have begun to emerge. Pehin Dato Awg Hj Yahya further indicated that this is a cause for considerable concern. He said that the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) is currently conducting a review on policy and actions that need to be taken to ensure that the food resource is protected and the production controlled in order to secure the national food security in the country.

To this effect, the minister called on all fishing entrepreneurs in the country to take greater precautions and abide by the regulations outlined by the Department of Fisheries so as to maintain the sustainability of fish resources in the country so they can be enjoyed by present and future generations.

Pehin Dato Awg Hj Yahya noted that the theme for this year's World Oceans Day, "Our Oceans: Opportunities and Challenges", serves as a reminder of the importance of the ocean to human life and of how very sensitive the ocean is in terms of exposure to human activities.

Humans have benefited from opportunities that arise from it and gained profit by exploring and developing the fisheries industries, tourism and shipping, he said. With such activities, the present and future challenges facing the world are issues such as climate change and implications of unregulated human activities that are destroying marine and aquatic life.

World Oceans Day is celebrated worldwide on June 8 to mark and appreciate the insurmountable contribution and importance of the ocean and its marine life to human lives. It serves as a source of nutrients and protein, as well as fishing, transportation and research, among others.