INTRODUCTION
Brunei Darussalam has a long tradition of fishing and the resources of its rivers,
Brunei Bay, and the coastal waters have for centuries provided a substantial part
of the protein requirements of its people. With the advent of new technologies in
the fishing sector, fishing has become more commercialised with the introduction
of larger vessels with inboard engines operating eg. trawlers and
purse-seiners to farther
and deeper waters of Brunei Darussalam, as compared to the artisanal fishing gears
using open-planked wooden boats powered by outboard engines operating only in the
shallow waters by the coasts.
Aquaculture in Brunei Darussalam, although quite recent compared to other countries
in the region, is developing quite fast. The high market demand for aquaculture products,
very conducive conditions, i.e. unpolluted waterways, absence of typhoons and floods,
makes aquaculture in this country a very promising industry. The major activities
in the aquaculture industry are the cage culture of marine fish and the pond culture
of marine shrimp. Development of technology on seed production and culture of other
species that are of high commercial value are one of the priorities of the Department
of Fisheries.
In parallel with the development of the capture and aquaculture sectors,
the post harvest
sector has also shown encouraging development over the years, from small-scale back
yard type to small/medium scale mechanized commercial operation.
The product range has also expanded from traditional products to products with export
potential such as frozen dressed fish and value-added product lines.
Since its establishment in 1966, the Fisheries Department is tasked to oversee
the development of the
fisheries industry and assist the entrepreneurs to increase their production for the local as well as the
export markets.
The Department continue to plan and embark on a number of developmental projects
to increase the production as well as exploiting various market niches.
The Department continues its process
of updating such as the having new Fisheries Act to replace
or supplement the existing Enactments and Regulations of 1972 and 1973 respectively
as well as the declaring the Brunei Fishery Limits Act of 1982,
extending to the 200 nautical mile limit offshore. All these Act put
Brunei Darussalam inline with the regional and international
conventions such as the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Department is fully committed to play a very important role in developing the
country's fisheries industry in order to fulfill the country's aspiration to diversify
the economy making it less dependent on the oil and gas sector.
