Minister Calls for Curbs on Overfishing
MUARA, 08 June 2010,
Tuesday - In recent times, the majority of the marine ecosystems,
including fishery resources, has been destroyed by overfishing and
prohibited fishing activities. The practitioners involved use equipment
that can damage fishery resources, cause marine pollution and so on.
This was stated in a speech
by the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri
Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj
Bakar, as guest of honour at the launch of the World Oceans Day
yesterday, at the Fish Landing Complex in Serasa, Muara.
In Brunei, he added, the
seas also play an important role to the citizens and residents of the
country, who benefit from waters covering an area of 41,000 square
kilometres and a 161-kilometre coastline. Taking advantage of the
opportunities to develop the fisheries industry as a food resource, the
Department of Fisheries have since 1984 issued fishing licences to
various fishing vessels in Zones 2 and 3.
Citing early research by
the department, the minister said that after 20 years, signs of the
occurrence of overfishing have begun to emerge.
Pehin Dato Awg Hj Yahya
further indicated that this is a cause for considerable concern.
He said that the Ministry
of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) is currently conducting a
review on policy and actions that need to be taken to ensure that the
food resource is protected and the production controlled in order to
secure the national food security in the country.
To this effect, the
minister called on all fishing entrepreneurs in the country to take
greater precautions and abide by the regulations outlined by the
Department of Fisheries so as to maintain the sustainability of fish
resources in the country so they can be enjoyed by present and future
generations.
Pehin Dato Awg Hj Yahya
noted that the theme for this year's World Oceans Day, "Our Oceans:
Opportunities and Challenges", serves as a reminder of the importance of
the ocean to human life and of how very sensitive the ocean is in terms
of exposure to human activities. Humans have benefited from
opportunities that arise from it and gained profit by exploring and
developing the fisheries industries, tourism and shipping, he said.
With such activities, the
present and future challenges facing the world are issues such as
climate change and implications of unregulated human activities that are
destroying marine and aquatic life.
World Oceans Day is
celebrated worldwide on June 8 to mark and appreciate the insurmountable
contribution and importance of the ocean and its marine life to human
lives.
It serves as a source of
nutrients and protein, as well as fishing, transportation and research,
among others.
The guest of honour
expressed hope that the launch of World Oceans Day would promote a
higher level of public awareness on the importance of taking care of
marine biodiversity, and of the waters of Brunei Darussalam in
particular.
The launch was followed by
a special talk on the theme of the event that was delivered by invited
speaker Mr Roger McManus.
The guest of honour also
initiated the start of a colouring competition participated by young
students from three government primary schools who had been invited to
join in the celebration.
The minister, along with
other invited guests including senior officers from MIPR and the
Fisheries Department, went on a boat ride to the Two Fathom Rock area
situated five nautical miles from the shore.
The area is home to one of
the country's most beautiful coral reefs. Two Fathom Rock is rich in
marine biodiversity and has the potential to be one of the main
eco-tourist attractions in the country.
Its history dates back to
1988 when the Fisheries Department, in collaboration with Brunei Shell
Petroleum (BSP) Company Sdn Bhd, managed to sink two oil platforms for
the first time as reef duplicates. BSP donated another five oil
platforms in 1994, to be sunk in the same area.
The minister also had the
opportunity to witness scuba diving activities and a Remote Operated
Vehicle (ROV) demonstration, and fishing activities carried out by
licenced commercial fishing boats in Zone 2 and by fishermen on
Baru-Baru Island.
The World Oceans Day
celebration concluded with the presentation of prizes for the winners of
the colouring competition.
- Courtesy of
the Borneo Bulletin -
