|| Capture Fisheries | Aquaculture
| Seafood Processing ||
POTENTIAL FISHERIES INVESTMENT AREAS
SEAFOOD PROCESSING
The
local market for processed seafood products presently is estimated
to worth B$ 17 million annually at a sustainable level. The year
2001 saw the total production of processed seafood products at 273
metric tones valued at B$ 2.6 million. There is also the domestic
requirement for fishmeal, which at present, about 5 metric tons are
being imported per day and with the growing aquaculture, chicken
farming etc. in the country, the demand is set to increase. More
rooms are still available for expansion and further development.
In addition, the following factors also make
the processing industry a tremendous potential in Brunei Darussalam
:-
| 1. |
Brunei
Darussalam’s food products are regarded in the local as well
as overseas market as synonymous with high quality and "halal"; |
| 2. |
Relatively
an undeveloped sector and therefore very low level
competition; |
| 3. |
Large
established local market to start with; and |
| 4. |
Available
prepared industrial sites with required basic infrastructures. |
The fish processing sector is still, however,
relatively at a small scale despite the big numbers of processors
and a joint-venture company involved in the production of a variety
of fisheries products. These products include frozen fish, crackers,
fish ball and cakes, fish nuggets, shrimp pastes, marinated fish and
dried fish. They are sold and easily available in the local markets.
The well-known prawn crackers of Brunei
Darussalam is seeing further growth. The Department of Fisheries is
continuously promoting the products locally and overseas. It is
anticipated that the product will be available easily overseas.
The Department of Fisheries has verified the
technology for the production of other value-added products such as
smoked fish from underutilized fish.
The Department of Fisheries is also
encouraging for the involvement of foreign companies to form a joint
venture company with local entrepreneurs in further developing the
fish processing sectors into larger enterprises.
Under the current, 5-year National Development
Plan, the Department has earmarked two projects to boost the seafood
processing industry. One is the Storage and Distribution Center -
Phase II. The goal of this activity is to develop and expand the
Continuous supply and marketing of quality fish produce from both
the capture and aquaculture industries. The second project is the
Regional Fisheries Import and Export Center (HUB). The goal of this
activity is to provide seafood processing facilities and catalytic
mechanisms for the overall development and expansion of the local
seafood industry.
Ensuring the safety and quality of fish
produced by local processors have been one of the main priorities of
the Department of Fisheries. Through the Quality Control Programs,
processed fish products are duly inspected. Seafood products
intended for international markets are given Health Attestation
certificates prior to exports to meet the importing country’s
requirement. Guidelines for the setting up of processing
establishments are among other activities given by the department to
entrepreneurs.
