Aquaculture Key Part of Diversification Drive
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 04
November 2008,
Tuesday - Despite being too small to aspire to become a major role
aquaculture producer, Brunei has a role in developing advanced
technology for producing high value end products when it comes to
developing shrimp farming in the country, said Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid
Hj Mohd Jaafar.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary
Resources (MIPR) highlighted this yesterday at the jointly organised
International Workshop on Shrimp Nutrition between the Department of
Fisheries, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, and Integrated
Aquaculture International (IAI) of the United States of America, at its
opening ceremony yesterday at Sheraton Utama Hotel, in the capital.
Present as the guest of honour to officiate the opening ceremony, Dato
Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid highlighted that His Majesty's Government has made
diversification of the economy as one of its top priorities and that
fisheries and the aquaculture plays an important role in the economic
diversification initiative.
"Our goal is to develop a package of technology including health
management, genetic selection, advanced grow out systems, high
performing feeds, and processing for premium international markets,"
added the permanent secretary yesterday.
Some 30 participants from all over the world from countries like Brazil,
Mexico, Peru, USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, China and the
Southeast Asian countries as well as some 20 government officials, local
shrimp operators and other agencies are attending the workshop.
The workshop is in line with the commitment of the Fisheries Department
to assist and develop the shrimp farming in the country. Among its
objectives are to improve understanding of the status of the global
shrimp feed industry on research, latest technologies, feed mills plant
and production cost and strengthen local capabilities for shrimp feed
management.
The three-day workshop will feature lectures by prominent scientists and
experts such as Dr Ronald Hardy, professor and director of Aquaculture
Research Centre, University of Idaho; Dr Robert A Swick, technical
director for the American Soybean Association in Singapore; Dr Sergio
Nates, an international strategist of the National Renderers Association
in the US, and others.
The workshop will focus on discussions of the nutrition component of the
programme as well as lectures on the global status of shrimp nutrition.
The participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Department
of Fisheries Shrimp Nutrition Research Centre (SNRC), quarantine and
breeding facilities, local shrimp hatchery and diagnostic laboratory to
see the development of Brunei's aquaculture industry. The highlight of
the tour will be on the newly designed SNRC, which houses 40 microcosm
tanks.
Also present at the event were Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim, director of Fisheries
and chairperson of the organising committee, Pg Hjh Mariana Pg DNLD Pg
Hj Abdul Momin, deputy permanent secretary of MIPR, and Dr George
Chamberlain, technical director of Integrated Aquaculture International
and co-chairperson of the organising committee.
- Courtesy of
the Brunei Times -
