130 Anglers at Fishing Contest
MUARA, 19 August 2007,
Sunday - MORE than 130 local fishing enthusiasts arrived at the Serasa
Water Sports Complex armed and ready with their rods and reels to take
part in the Sport Fishing Competition 2007 yesterday morning.
The event was organised by
the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR),
and Dalplus Technologies (Capt Fred Fishing Supply).
Yesterday's competition was
for the onshore or beach category, which required the use of only a rod
and reel.
The competition previously
had an offshore fishing category.
The event, which was to
begin last Friday, was postponed due to safety reasons upon news of the
Super Typhoon Sepat feared to affect Brunei waters.
Weather permitting, the
offshore category might be postponed to a later date.
Yesterday's competition had
the objective promoting eco-tourism through fishing activities in the
sultanate.
Recreational fishing is
hoped to become a potential income-generating activity in the
eco-tourism sector.
Fisheries Director Hajah
Hasnah Ibrahim remarked on the growing popularity of the sport, which
could be seen from the increase in applications for sport fishing
licences since 2004.
According to the Fisheries
Department, 250 licences were given out last year.
"This shows that the
eco-tourism sector has the potential to pull in tourists that come into
the country to fish," said the director.
Meanwhile, the ceremony's
guest of honour, Pengiran Hajah Mariana PDNLDR Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin,
Deputy Permanent Secretary of MIPR, in her speech highlighted the
worrying trend of cyanide poisoning and bombing of fishes among certain
fishermen.
These activities have
caused damaged to the beautiful coral reefs that exist in the seas of
the sultanate, and may lead to their destruction and extinction.
"Our marine biodiversity is
a treasure that should be looked after as our natural heritage for
generations to come," she stressed.
She noted that the
Fisheries Department has made several efforts towards preserving marine
resources and thus develop the tourism industry. These include the
establishment of a Marine Park to foster and maintain flora and fauna
biodiversity and provide a breeding ground for fishes and other marine
life.
Following the guest of
honour's speech was the prize giving ceremony for winners of the beach
category competition.
Only one category was
contested.
In this category, prizes
which were given to three contestants who caught the biggest fish.
Ten other participants were
given consolation prizes.
The prizes were presented
by the guest of honour.
Third place went to Ak
Yunus Pengiran Haji Damit with his 0.74kg buntal or puffer fish.
He received a $150 cash
prize and trophy as well as a Daiwa Opus Plus 5500 rod.
Roziman Abdul Razak won
second place for his 0.92kg umpak and was presented with a $300 cash
prize, a trophy and a Daiwa Opus Plus 6000 rod.
The champion of the
competition was Jainudin Haji Junggal, who caught a 2.39kg buntal fish.
Jainudin was presented with
a mock cheque for $600 and a trophy as well as a Daiwa Sealine SL 400H
rod.
Jainudin, who has been
river fishing since he was young, told The Brunei Times that he hopes
the encouragement of sports fishing will continue and that the
competition will be held yearly.
The Fisheries Department
also organises similar competitions every year.
These include Sport Fishing
at Jubilee Recreational Park, Anduki in 2003 for the Belait district and
more recently, at the Seri Kenangan Beach in Tutong last year.
These events
were organised following the success of the initial Sport Fishing
Competition, which was held in 2001 in conjunction with the Visit Brunei
Year.
- Courtesy of the
Brunei Times -
