Fisheries Department Inks Deal with US Firm
BERAKAS, 18 January 2007,
Thursday -
The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Industry and Primary
Resources, yesterday signed an agreement with the Integrated Aquaculture
International (IAI) of the United States to stimulate shrimp farming in
the country through advanced technology and niche marketing.
Signing on behalf of the
Fisheries Department was its director, Hajah Hasnah Ibrahim, while IAI
was represented by its technical director, Dr George Chamberlain.
Also present at the
ceremony, which was held at Orchid Garden Hotel, were Minister of
Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Dato Dr Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji
Jumat and American Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Mr Emil M Skodon.
Following the ceremony, the Minister, Permanent Secretary at the
Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Dato Haji Mohd Hamid Haji
Mohd Jaafar, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and
Primary Resources Pg Hjh Mariana Pg Hj Abd Momin, Hajah Hasnah Ibrahim,
Dr Chamberlain and other senior officials of the Ministry of Industry
and Primary Resources paid a working visit to shrimp farms in Kampong
Pengkalan Sibabau Phase 1, Mentiri and a fish farm in Kampong Serdang.
The visit was aimed at
providing the entrepreneurs full support and encouragement, and to take
a closer look at issues in the shrimp farming industry.
The visit also gave the
minister an opportunity to keep up-to-date on the projects implemented
by the National Development Plans, under the supervision of the
Department of Fisheries.
The aquaculture industry,
which was established in the country in 1984, comprised fish cage and
shrimp pond cultures as well as freshwater and ornamental fish culture
activities.
In 2005, a total of 394
metric tonnes were produced from the shrimp pond culture activity,
valued at $3.16 million. Thirteen entrepreneurs were involved, operating
in an area of 230 hectares throughout the country.
The production is low,
compared to the full potential of the industry, which is estimated at
$113 million per year. Among the factors that can be attributed to the
low performance are the low production capacity and inefficient pond
management.
The Department of Fisheries
has therefore put in efforts to assist shrimp culture operators in
increasing the production through several national development projects.
These initiatives include the Aquaculture Development Centre in Meragang,
Broodstock Development Centre in Serasa, and provisions of basic
infrastructure at aquaculture industrial sites to minimise the cost of
development of the area and to attract foreign investors to the local
shrimp industry.
It is envisaged that the
value of the aquaculture industry can reach up to $200 million a year on
a sustainable basis. In view of the low production output and the
problems encountered by operators, it is important to devise a new
strategy to leap frog from the current status quo in the sector to
achieve the target.
With the implementation of
this project, the required experts will be made available to the
Department of Fisheries from the Integrated Aquaculture International.
Among the expected outcomes
of the project are the increase in shrimp production to 10 metric tonnes
per hectare per year, production of over 100 million shrimp frys per
year, production of big-sized tiger prawns for the global market, and
the use of advanced technology in the culture of shrimps.
- Courtesy of
Borneo Bulletin -
