Signs of Overfishing in Sultanate Worrying : MIPR
MUARA, 08 June 2010,
Tuesday - BRUNEI'S waters are showing tell-tale signs of being
overfished after more than 20 years of licensed fishing, the Minister of
Industry and Primary Resources said yesterday, citing findings from
preliminary studies by the Department of Fisheries.
"The situation is worrying," said Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri
Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar in his World Ocean Day
address. "The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) is
currently reviewing its policies and the steps that need to be taken to
ensure that one of the (nation's) food sources are safeguarded and (its)
production controlled for the sake of the country's food security.
"In this regard, I urge fishermen in the country to be attentive and
comply with the directives set by the Fisheries Department, MIPR, in
order to guarantee the continuity of fisheries resources, so that it can
be enjoyed sustainably by the generations to come," he added.
The department's head of Marine Fisheries Development and Management
Division told The Brunei Times that based on stock assessment an
activity carried out every month and the results of which are compiled
into a year-end report there were signs that production was decreasing.
Ranimah Hj Abd Wahab said that this was evident in the presence of more
smaller-sized fish in Brunei's waters, while predatory fish, such as the
Napoleon Wrasse, were "beginning to disappear" due to overfishing.
However, it was not only the marine ecosystem that was hurting, but
fishermen too have had to shoulder the weight of their own doing as the
decline in catch in certain areas has forced them to go farther offshore
to fill their nets, she pointed out.
To date, Ranimah said that the Sultanate is port to some 35 commercial
fishing vessels, while there are over 1,000 fishermen operating smaller
boats and catching fish with nets, fish traps and "hooks and lines".
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department has been issuing fishing licences
for trawlers and purse seiners for fishing in Zones 2 and 3 since 1984.
Ranimah also said that the problem of overfishing was common in the
Southeast Asian region and was not unique to Brunei, but she stressed
that precautionary measures still had to be taken by the department.
These included imposing moratoriums or temporary bans on fishing in
certain areas and regular patrols and inspections of fishing activities
to make sure that they were complying with the rules.
Artificial reefs made by sinking decommissioned oil rigs were also
introduced to enrich marine resources, since it was not enough to "just
depend" on natural reefs.
There are currently no estimates as to how long Brunei's fisheries
resources can last if the present trend continues unchanged, but Ranimah
said, "we will take whatever precautionary measures that are best for
the country".
Brunei's waters encompass an area of about 41,000 square kilometres and
a coastline that spans 161km.
- Courtesy of
the Brunei Times -
