| Azaraimy HH |
THE aquaculture sector is fast emerging as a potential source of revenue and job creation in the oil-dependent economy of Brunei.
The Sultanate is now considered as one of the largest producers of rostris blue shrimp in the world thanks to high-technology and computerised farming techniques.
In a recent interview with the Weekend Bulletin, Acting Director of Fisheries, Mariani binti Haji Sabtu said Brunei Darussalam is poised to be the world’s largest rostris blue shrimp producer, fast overtaking New Caledonia, a country with a high gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the Asia-Pacific region and rich in mining and agricultural resources.
She said the Fisheries Department has set a target to increase aquaculture revenue from BND9 million in 2015 to BND400 million per year by 2020. It may look ambitious, but she said she is optimistic as the results so far are quite good.
She added that the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) has put in place a five-year strategic plan to increase aquaculture output for export markets, including welcoming proposals and initiatives by companies or farmers wishing to venture into projects to develop new hybrids and open collaboration in areas of applied research and development (R&D).
“Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd, one of the major shrimp producers in the country, last year targetted additional production of at least 2,500 metric tonnes of blue shrimp when it acquired an additional land lease for a 200-hectare onshore aquaculture farm in Mukim Telisai, Tutong District, where it hopes to export to the European Union and Australian markets,” the Acting Fisheries Director said.
“Golden Corporation, together with Semaun Marine Resources Sdn Bhd (SMR), operates the country’s first seafood processing plant at its Multi-Purpose Marine Resources Processing and Business Centre in Tutong District.”
There are also other companies that produce blue shrimps in the country such as Helif Aquaculture Sdn Bhd that focusses on the local market, especially seafood processing plants. In an interview, the company’s Farm Marketing Manager, Chong Chya said the farm produces around 250 tonnes of shrimps per year at its 16-hectare prawn breeding area in Mentiri Zone II.
According to Chong, the local market can consume about one metric tonne per day and therefore majority of the produce in the country should go into export.
The high-tech farming of the blue shrimp is a capital intensive operation. According to Chong, the cost of operating one pond is around BND50,000 per cycle (around 120 days).
Helif Aquaculture launched its operation in 2000 beginning with six ponds, and now operates 17 ponds.
One of the strategic goals of the nation’s economic diversification is job creation, and the aquaculture sector has a strong potential in creating jobs for locals.
Golden Corporation, which operates on a whole value chain from farming and catching to food processing, is providing over 120 jobs to locals and is planning to employ an additional 80 locals in the soon-to-be-launched next phase of expansion.
Mariani believed that more jobs would be created as the sector develops, creating new spin-off industries such as logistics and distribution.
The question is, will jobs in fisheries appeal to locals, especially the youths?
She said more youths today are entering the fisheries industry to look for jobs, be it manual or white-collar jobs.
With the fisheries industry getting more high-tech and the need for companies to do research and development, jobs are no longer restricted to manual types, making working in the fisheries industry attractive for youths.
Jeep Sharman, Managing Director of Barramundi Asia, a Singaporean fish farming firm that recently signed a deal with the government to invest BND300 million to rear barramundi (sea bass) in Brunei waters, said works in the fisheries industry, especially in the aquaculture industry, has become more high-tech and computerised, and thus more interesting.
“Do you have an aquarium? If you do, notice the nicest thing about it is that when you feed the fish they will all come in droves. Similarly, in the aquaculture operation, in the hatchery/nursery, you have to think the same thing when you feed them. It is a self-gratifying job just like when you have an aquarium, it is really a nice job to go into,” Sharman said.
He added, “At the sea or an offshore site, workers will use machines to feed. There are computers and cameras underwater to monitor the fish, and skilled operators will be pressing buttons, probably sitting in an air-conditioned room.
“Barramundi Asia hopes to produce 40,000 metric tonnes of barramundi per year, thus it is a major operation and will employ a lot of people. Most of the fish produce will go into export as 40,000 metric tonnes is way too many of fish for the Brunei market.”
General Manager of Barramundi Asia, Eva Lim highlighted that Brunei will also benefit not just in terms of the economy and job creation but also in terms of technology transfer.
She said, “It should be an exciting time for the youths in this country to experience the knowledge transfer and develop it further as the industry matures. It is an exciting time for the locals to get involved in the fisheries industry.
“Aquaculture offers high-value jobs, it is not the old way of doing things. For example, in terms of processing, you need to learn how to operate a machine at Barramundi Asia; the machines are of world-class level. Even for farming, it is no longer the traditional style; it is where you will learn new technology as you go into the industry.
“There is a lot of science and also art in this industry, where the science brings the technology and the art brings us closer to understanding the fish, thus bridging technology and farming together.”
Meanwhile, Mariani said that the nation’s aquaculture industry, especially offshore, is expanding. Besides Barramundi Asia, another overseas company is already in the initial stages of production in Brunei.
“Our total area for offshore aquaculture is 18,000 hectares and only half of this has been taken so far. There is enough room for further expansion that could contribute further to our GDP and job creation, including in spin-offs industries,” she added.
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