Brunei

[Makaira]

Yo Saimee .... good news for you & your crew ... or not?



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April 13, 2007
Brunei to curb commercial fishing next year


BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Brunei will impose a moratorium on commercial fishing in coastal waters starting January 2008 following a plunge in fish stocks.
Only small-scale, individual fishing will be permitted until marine resources recover to sustainable levels in waters known as Zone 1, which covers 3 nautical miles (4.8 kilometres) from Brunei's shoreline, Fisheries Department officer Ranimah Abdul Wahab said on Thursday.
According to Fisheries Department statistics, fish stocks in this tiny sultanate on Borneo island fell 43 per cent between 1980 and 2000. The worst affected area was Zone 1, where waters are as much as 50 metres deep.
Brunei has a coastline stretching 130 kilometres. Its sea territory spans 38,600 square kilometres with fishing areas separated into four zones. The country has one of Southeast Asia's highest rates of per capita fish consumption, and has to import about 50 per cent of its fish needs to supplement local fishing. Each resident consumes an average of 45 kilograms of fish per year, resulting in an annual national demand of 15,500 metric tonnes, according to government data. -- AP
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access

[jason]

See Saimee , wat have u done????

Now the government stop u cos U guys are catching too much good quality fish ....

Juz joking bro.....

Good to hear from Brunei that they still at least concerned about the fish stock level.....

Very hard to hear from Singapore doing that.....


Cheers
jason

[DaFrogman]

Mak and Jason.,

Yes I am glad that they finally got off their asses to acknowledge something I have been telling them for the last 8-9 years or so. BUT, whilst a step in the right direction, it is not in my opinion even half of what they need to do.

They need to reduce the longlining and eliminate bottom trawlers. Furthermore, none of their measures will be worth a sparrow fart if they don't actually go out on the water and enforce the measures they yak about and also try and catch the Malaysian fishing vessels which seem to fish our waters with impunity at night and couldn't give a damn about the law anyway.

As Ishak said to a fisheries officer at the boat landing who was asking for fishing licenses, [Polite Translation]; "Stop trying to catch people illegally fishing next to the Toilet ".... (Its much ruder and more hilarious in Malay)... He basically was telling the guy to stop harassing the small rec fishermen and go out to the damn sea and catch the commercial poachers and big time reef destroyers.

Anyway, am glad to see that FO is watching Brunei with interest...especially my Grand Master Mak.....

Saimee

[fish head]

Hi Samiee

First posting in this forum as I usually browse through only.

By the way, I heard that licenses will be/going to be issue to Vietnam trawlers to explore the deeper water of Brunei. U aware of that? Probably >100km from shoreline.

Quoted from a copy of English Newspaper while staying in my favourite Hotel : The Empire

regards

Fish Head

[DaFrogman]

Originally Posted by fish head

By the way, I heard that licenses will be/going to be issue to Vietnam trawlers to explore the deeper water of Brunei. U aware of that? Probably >100km from shoreline.

Quoted from a copy of English Newspaper while staying in my favourite Hotel : The Empire

Fish Head dude,

Thanks for the news.... I was not aware of that actually, do your recall which paper it was?.

If indeed that is the intention, I find it a somewhat cruel irony that so far our Malaysian neighbours to the east and west have been busy catching and prosecuting all the Chinese and Vietnamese trawlers they can get, whilst we might well be inviting them to hammer our waters for what will be a paltry amount of licensing.

Sighhhhhhhh am getting depressed now, must go to sea next week.

Saimee

[jason]

Yo Saimee

Its like that loh....They using the protection of the waters to earn some money....
Better fish hard now if not no more amberjack for u next time......
I booking my next flight to Brunei liao.....hahahahahaha!!!!


Cheers
Jason

[fish head]

Hi Saimee

If I remember clearly, should be Borneo Bulletin.

By the way, I'm planning a group fishing trip to Brunei probably end of this month. Will be boarding the boat off the fish market in Gadong area. (Very near to Empire Hotel)

Any advise on the dates which is favourable for bottom fishing. Heard local fishermen that 2~3 days before full moon is the best timing for hard core like us.

Pls advise.

Cheers

[DaFrogman]

Fish Head dude,

Thanks for the info on the BB.

Usually the crew prefer the new moon and just after the full moon. I think the fishmarket you mentioned is Jerudong (on the beach near Empire) not Gadong, just in case you are going to use a driver, don't get sent to the wrong fish market. I launch the boat from there too... Drop me a PM on your schedule and I'll see if I can drop by when you guys launch.

Regards,

Saimee

[ophio]

Its really glad to hear that at least they have taken note on the long liners and trawlers .Hopefully actions will be taken soon ,and the reefs will be out off harms way (well ,at least not so much damage ) in the future .

Cheers !

[fish head]

Saimee

Yes ur right. Should be Jerudong near the Shell station of Sultan's ex wife.

Will try to drop u a note on the boat launch timing.

regards