Zone 1 fishing ban to curb overexploitation

THE suspension of specific fishing activities in Zone 1 of Brunei's waters is a strategy to recover and better manage marine resources, after indications of overfishing in the zone, a spokesperson from the Fisheries Department said.

Overexploitation of Brunei's marine resources and a 43 per cent decrease of Brunei's fisheries have resulted in the temporary ban, which affects commercial small-scale fishing companies.

"Fish resources in zones 2, 3 and 4 may be affected if the breeding grounds of Zone 1 are not protected or managed effectively (because) the fishing area of Zone 1, including the Brunei Bay, plays an important role as nursery and feeding grounds for most fish species and shrimps in Brunei's coastal waters," she told The Brunei Times.

She said that about 150 commercial small-scale fishing companies would be affected in the transfer from Zone 1 to Zone 2, which would take effect from January 1, 2008.

Full-time or part-time fishermen are still allowed to fish in Zone 1, as only existing commercial small-scale fishing companies are prohibited to conduct fishing activities there, she added.

She also said that one of the expected challenges of imposing the ban is to conduct surveillance to ensure the temporary ban is complied by everyone.

This is because the Fisheries Department has other responsibilities: to eliminate illegal fishing practices, to restrict foreign fishing encroachment, and to ensure that the laws and regulations of the Fisheries Act are obeyed.

Some fishermen have welcomed the initiative, as this would ensure that fishes would still be available for future generations.

It would also raise awareness that everybody has an important role to play in protecting the marine resources, she said. On the other hand, some have mixed reactions, because they do not have experience of fishing in their new designated area in Zone 2.

"They highlighted the concern of anticipating low production due to deeper waters for their gears and sharing the same area with other commercial fishing boats, such as trawlers, purse seiners and long liners," the officer said.

"The temporary ban will continue to be implemented for a period of time until the full recovery of marine resources is achieved," she further said.

Thus far, the department has organised four roadshows in four districts to disseminate information on the implementation of the temporary ban.

The department has also conducted training programmes on the use of global positioning system to ensure that the commercial small-scale fishing companies understand their new fishing areas are in Zone 2, which is three to 20 nautical miles from the shore.

Under the department's national development plan, it is also in the planning stage of establishing sanctuary areas, or better known as marine protected areas, for fish breeding and nursery.

The Brunei Times