The fisheries sector has garnered attention from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) for the sector to increase its production and contribute significantly to the nation’s economy.
For 2021 as a whole, the gross production of fisheries – made up of fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing – increased by 37.31 per cent compared to the previous year. In total, the sector’s production value is BND190.95 million in 2021.
The production value’s significant rise is contributed by the fishing industry, with a gross production of about 57.4 per cent (BND109.53 million) followed by the aquaculture industry at 23.5 per cent (BND44.90 million) and the fish processing industry at 19.1 per cent (BND36.52 million).
For the aquaculture industry, the gross production value in 2021 recorded a total of BND44.90 million made up of sea prawns, saltwater fish, fresh water fish, crab, prawns and fish and prawn fries industry. The main contributor towards this increased value is from the prawn farming industry with a 45.8 per cent increase, from BND26.08 million in 2020 to BND38.03 million in 2021.
The aquaculture industry in Brunei Darussalam has a huge potential to be widely developed to contribute significantly to the nation’s economy and export market target. Towards this, the Department of Fisheries has opened up sites in all four districts of Brunei to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) and for locals to venture into the aquaculture industry, particularly for investors whose activity includes harvesting shrimp farming using the latest technologies such as through shrimp and fish farming using a vertical farming method and recirculating aquaculture system.
To increase the aquaculture industry‘s production, the Department of Fisheries has implemented several initiatives such as providing basic infrastructure facilities for new sites, developing and upgrading facilities of existing industrial sites and introducing new sea prawn species (Litopenaeus Vannamei). The department has also implemented training programmes and seminars for entrepreneurs, as well as other related programmes such as Brunei Good Aquaculture Practices Certification (BGAqP).
Barramundi Asia (B) Sdn Bhd from Singapore is one of the foreign direct investment companies that has invested in the country’s aquaculture sector, specifically for the production of Barramundi fish locally known as ikan selungsong. In May 2022, two agreements were signed on the lease and operation of a fish culture farm at Sungai Mangsalut Aquaculture Site as well as the supplementary sea occupancy licence agreement for a fish farm area at Pelong Rock Offshore Fish Cage Culture Farm Site A. The agreements aim to expand farm developments, specifically in offshore fish farming, fish hatchery and processing.
To increase the aquaculture industry’s production, the Department of Fisheries has implemented several initiatives such as providing basic infrastructure facilities for new sites, developing and upgrading facilities of existing industrial sites and introducing new sea prawn species (Litopenaeus Vannamei).
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