Marine
Fish Aquaculture in Negara Brunei Darussalam
Zohrah Haji Sulaiman[1]
Abstract
Marine fish aquaculture is relatively new in Negara Brunei Darussalam.
At present, it only contributes 1% to the fisheries production. However, marine
fish aquaculture is getting important as products fetch good prices and offer
viable prospects in the local market. The major marine fish cultured is seabass
(Lates calcarifer). In addition
to seabass, the Fisheries Department also encourages operators to farm other
marine fish species such as groupers, snappers, jacks, and rabbitfishes. A promising trend was observed in the number
of operators in Negara Brunei Darussalam; the number of operators has increased
from 10 in 1993 to 13 in 1995 and production of cultured marine fishes
consisting mainly of seabass has also increased from 31 to 74 tonnes, respectively.
The Fisheries Department has also tried to culture grouper from broodstocks for
commercially-based operation but the venture to date is unsuccessful. The aquaculture operations and problems are
discussed in this paper and a set of recommendations is given.
Introduction
The
demand and consumption of fish increased recently in Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The demand for fish, both marine and freshwater, has increased from 4,414
tonnes in 1985 to 6,374 tonnes in 1990, showing an increase of approximately
2,000 tonnes over a period of 5 years (Fisheries Department). On average one household spent 4.5% on
fishes per month (based on a survey carried out in Negara Brunei Darussalam in
1987 and 1988; Statistics Division, EPU, Ministry of Finance). It is projected
that demand will grow at 3.6% annually (Report on Brunei Darussalam: A Study of
the Market for Fish and Fish Products, 1993).
To satisfy local consumption and to produce more for
export, the government of Negara Brunei Darussalam initiated fish production by
aquaculture through the Fisheries Department.
In addition, it also imports fishes from overseas such as Singapore and
Malaysia to supplement local production.
The imported fishes comprise approximately 50-60% of the total fish sold
in the markets. In 1991, fresh imports
from other countries were valued about BND $23 million (Report on Brunei
Darussalam: A Study of the Market for Fish and Fish Products, 1993). Fish market is clearly an important element
of the total food sector.
The Brunei Government through its Fisheries Department
provides other subsidies in providing sites and advice for local
operators. The size of each farm site
is 0.4 hectare and depending on the production levels, this area may be
increased. The Department of Fisheries
through its Mobile Technical Unit also provides continuous aid to the farmers
by making weekly visits to their floating cages. In addition, the government through its Economic Development
Board is also providing a special loan scheme to interested operators.
Marine Fish Aquaculture
Overview
The Department of Fisheries (now under the Ministry of
Industry and Primary Resources) introduced aquaculture in Negara Brunei
Darussalam in the 1970’s. The first
aquaculture project involved the rearing of freshwater fishes in Sungai
Jambu. Marine aquaculture in the
Sultanate, on the other hand, started on trial cultures of Saccostrea
cucullata, the mangrove oyster that is native to Brunei. The trial culture of oysters, however,
showed discouraging growth performance (Beales, 1982). The next species tried marine culture was
green mussels, Perna viridis, and the results of the trials were more
successful. The poor supply of spats
was still one constraint to the development of the mussel industry (Beales,
1982).
Marine fish and prawn culture began in the 1980s about
the same time as the development of the prawn industry. Seabass (Lates calcarifer) broodstocks
were imported from Thailand in 1984 and seabass cage culture was introduced
subsequently to local operators for commercial production in 1990. The successful venture in seabass led the
Fisheries Department to culture another marine fish species (groupers) which is
equally popular and expensive among restaurateurs and consumers,
respectively. This paper will discuss
the marine fish aquaculture in Negara Brunei Darussalam with specific reference
to seabass (Lates calcarifer) and groupers (Epinephelus species).
Cultured Species
A variety of marine species are cultured in
Brunei. Lates calcarifer, the
seabass, is the main species being cultured.
The other species are groupers, snappers, jacks, and rabbitfish (Siganus
javus).
Production
Since its introduction to local operators
in 1990, the aquaculture industry in Negara Brunei Darussalam has been
developing steadily. In general, the
contribution of aquaculture to the fisheries industry is still small at about
1%. The production of cultured marine
fishes, consisting mainly of seabass, has increased from 31 tonnes in 1993 to
74 tonnes in 1995. The number of
operators increased as well, from 10 to 13, and there is a trend towards the
involvement of more local operators and the increase in the production of
seabass. The other marine species have
lesser production.
Marketing
The seabass market is limited to Brunei-Muara area and
the main outlets are the restaurants, hotels, and Gadong fish market. In 1996, the cost of live and fresh seabass
in the market is between BND $ 12 to $15 and BND $11 per kg, respectively. Most consumers prefer live to fresh seabass.
Marine Aquaculture Systems and Management
The area of commercially-based operation is at Pelumpong, Keingaran, and Buang Tawar in the Brunei-Muara district. It has satisfied the following criteria for site- selection, namely: water quality including optimum saline concentration, favourable tides or currents to farming, accessibility to operation site and most importantly, absence of water pollution. The salinity at Pelumpong area is favourable slightly higher salinity (27-32 ppt) than Keingaran and Buang Tawar.
Culture Systems Culture Practices
Seabass
There are two culture systems employed in Brunei, namely, the semi-enclosed and open-culture systems. Cage culture is the major culture system practised in most farms for seabass.
The culture systems are either monoculture or
polyculture. Sometimes, seabass is
cultured in cages by itself.
Polyculture of seabass with other marine fish species was encouraged to
supplement the shortage of seabass and to provide a wide range of species for
the live-fish market.
Broodstock/Hatchery Production /Seed Supply
The
Meragang Hatchery of Fisheries Department is responsible for producing seeds
from broodstocks that are kept in the Hatchery and in Serasa floating
cages. Approximately 12 million eggs
are produced from female broodstocks per year with the hatching rate from 70 to
90% (Report on Aquaculture Development at Serasa and Meragang Site, Department
of Fisheries). The Meragang Hatchery
stocks 4.5 million hatchlings per year and produces 600,000 seedlings (day
50-60) per year (Report on Aquaculture Development at Serasa and Meragang Site,
Department of Fisheries).
At present, the local operators depend on the larval
seabass supplied by this hatchery for stocking their floating cages. The hatchery supplies the first 1,000 larval
sea bass (1.5 to 3.5 inches in length) free of charge to new operator and will
charge BND $ 0.20 to $0.50/piece (depending on size) thereafter.
Stocking
Densities, Survival Rates, and Nursery Practices
The larval seabass are fed with Brachionus
plicatilis, enriched with Nannochloris from Day 2 to 9 and with Artemia
franciscana (brine shrimp) from Day 10 to 40. After Day 40, the diet consists of trash fish and dry fish
pellets. They are later transferred to
nursery ponds at Serasa when they are 50-60 days old and stocked at 8,000/400 m3).
The stocking density differs between semi-enclosed and
open-culture systems. For the
semi-enclosed system, the stocking density is 125,000 hatchlings per 5-m3 fibreglass
tank. Since the survival rate from Day
1 to 20 is 35%, the stock falls to approximately 1.5 million per year for Day
20 hatchlings (Report on Aquaculture Development at Serasa and Meragang site,
Department of Fisheries). For the open-culture system, the stocking density is
50,000 larvae per 10-m3 tank at Day 20.
Grow-out Period
The grow-out of seabasss is in cages with a volume of
50 m3. The stocking rate is
20 pcs/m3 for seeds ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 inches. It takes 6 months to grow seabass fry to 600
g and the survival rate is 60%. During
this period, the seabass fry is fed with trashfish and the food conversion rate
is 1:8. The size sufficient for harvest
is between 600 g to 1.2 kg.
Groupers
The
Fisheries Department has also tried to culture groupers from broodstocks for
commercially-based operation but the venture to date was unsuccessful. A joint venture of the Fisheries Department
and JAIDO in growing-out of imported grouper fingerlings from Indonesia, Sri
Lanka, and Philippines in cages has proved to be profitable. The groupers are kept in cages for 7 months
until they reach 0.6-1.2 kg (Grade A).
These groupers are grown and then exported to Hong Kong.
The grouper grow-out now has been taken jointly by two
private sectors, Semaun Holdings and Baiduri Holdings Private Limited. The
joint venture hopes to produce groupers of high quality for local consumption
and export (Borneo Bulletin, 20 November 1996).
The difficulty encountered by the Fisheries Department
in culturing groupers is the high larval mortality. The Meragang Hatchery noted a mortality rate of approximately 50%
at this stage. The high mortality rate
was thought to be due to the unsuitability of the size of feeds (e. g.,
rotifers) for small larval mouths, possibly causing starvation and death. This problem has been observed (Kohno et
al., 1990) and research is underway to find suitable feeds for grouper
larvae. For example, the potential for
copepods as feed for grouper larvae is being investigated in ARRI Institute of
Chulalongkorn University in Thailand (Sumito Akatsu, pers. comm.).
Management of Farms
The operations
at present are geared to meet the demand of local consumers and are profitable to
the owners or operators. To be profitable, a farm needs a minimum of 30 cages,
providing a cage culture volume of 1,500 m3. In most cage culture farms, a manager or the
owner and 1 to 2 farm-labourers, based on the farm, manage the operations. The operational cost amounts to about BND
$93,000 per cropping (Table 1; Department of Fisheries). A large portion of this cost is for labour
and infrastructure, farm supplies, and materials. The production in 6 months is 10,800 kg. Thus, the cost of production is BND $
8.60/kg. The wholesale cost of seabass
is BND $11.00/kg, thus there is a profit of BND 2.40/kg. However, most operators retail their own
product at prices, ranging from BND $12.00-15.00 and bringing profits of BND
$3.40-6.40/kg.
In most cage culture farms, an operation comprises of
a manager or the owner and 1 to 2 farm labourers, who are based on the
farm. Some farms are under-staffed and
poorly managed. Quite often, farms do
not follow instructions on stocking density which are set by the Fisheries
Department. In order to save costs and
space, some farms stock fishes in cages more than the recommended numbers which
is set at 20 pieces per cubic metre, for seeds ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 inches. Trash fish, supplied by fishermen and
sometimes from their own catches, is the most common feed for cultured fishes
in cages.
Social and Economic Aspects
Aquaculture, although a new industry in Negara Brunei Darussalam, is not labour-intensive. The people involved in marine fish farming are usually self-employed, pensioners, retired civil servants, and army personnel. Often the farm is run by the family; the parents are normally carrying-out managerial duties with assistance from the children. Other farms are run by labourers employed from Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Philippines, as fish-farming has not been able to attract the younger generation especially the school-leavers. In general, the aquaculture industry in Negara Brunei Darussalam has no significant impact on the employment sector of the local population.
Environmental Issues and Management
At present, research has not been conducted to assess impacts of wild fish collection for commercial farming. The impact, however, is expected to be small, as marine fish farming in Brunei Darussalam is not intensive. Furthermore, aquaculture in the Sultanate has not yet developed fully. Integrated planning, legislation, and zoning for environmental management measures have not been explored for management.
Constraints and Recommendations
The
constraints in the aquaculture industry in Brunei are technical and economic in
nature. The primary problem encountered
in the culture of seabass and groupers is the lack of supply of larvae. Seabass larvae are limited and the
over-dependence of local operators on larval seabass from Fisheries Department
often exhausts resources. In addition,
the spawning season of seabass has not been consistent throughout the
year. As for the groupers, breeding in
captivity has not been successful.
The limited supply of seeds has been partially
addressed. The limited supply of seabass larvae is overcome by culturing other
species such as groupers, jacks, and snappers. Fingerlings of groupers are
imported with involvement of the private sector.
There are other problems faced by the aquaculture
industry. Strong currents, especially
during the tropical monsoon season may damage nets and often caged fishes
escape to the wild. Bacterial infection in Pelumpong, which is caused mostly by
the Vibrio species, is often the cause of death. Furthermore, mortality of grouper larvae is
high as a result of starvation. The
appropriate feed for larvae will be addressed with technical assistance from
grouper specialists in Japan.
The Fisheries Department has also identified
socio-economic problems in the industry.
There is inefficient seabass distribution system - since the market for
seabass is confined to Brunei-Muara district only, uncompetitive prices - and
the lack of marketing/financial management among the operators. There is also labour shortage for research,
development, and management. Also, due
to the accessibility of the farm sites by boats, the farms are sometimes
vulnerable to poachers. Poachers are dealt by monitoring the farm closely and
one farm keeps dogs to guard the site.
In
addition, some farms are under-staffed and poorly managed. Quite often, farms do not follow
instructions on stocking density, which are set by the Fisheries
Department. In order to save costs and
space, some farms stock fishes in cages above the recommended numbers.
The strategies and recommendations to deal with these
constraints are to create more market outlets or business contacts for the sale
of cultured live-fish nation-wide, strengthening fish marketing linkages, and lastly
by conducting training programs, workshops, and seminars. The Fisheries Department could also invite
university personnel to participate in their projects and create a special
participation scheme in marine fish aquaculture could be introduced to attract
school-leavers.
Although the marine fish aquaculture in Negara Brunei
Darussalam is still small, it has nevertheless shown a promising trend towards
expansion and progress. The Fisheries
Department always welcomes the involvement of the private sector to expand the
present aquaculture industry locally and regionally (Borneo Bulletin, 26
November 1997).
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank the
Universiti Brunei Darussalam for giving me the rare opportunity to attend this
workshop and the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary
Resources for sharing the useful information.
Literature Cited
Beales, R.W. (1982). Brunei fisheries and
research. ICLARM Newsletter 5, 20. Borneo Bulletin, 26th November
1996.
Kohno, H., S.
Diani, P. Suyanto, B. Slamet and P. T. Imanto (1990). Early developmental
events associated with changeover of nutrient sources in the grouper, Epinephelus
fuscoguttatus, larvae. Bull. Pen. Perikanan, Spec. Ed. No.1:51-64.
Report on
Aquaculture Development at Serasa and Meragang Site, Department of Fisheries.
Report on Brunei Darussalam: A Study of the
market for fish and fish products, Department of Fisheries. (1993). Statistics
Division, Economic Planning Unit, Ministry of Finance