Fish-Processing Sector Has Huge Potential To Develop
By Achong Tanjong

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei is a country rich in marine resources, which can be exploited to help diversify the economy in line with the government's effort to curb its reliance on the oil and gas industry.

One of the potential areas identified for investment is the fish-processing sector, which is still operated on a relatively small scale, despite the large number of processors and joint-venture companies involved in the manufacturing of a variety of fisheries products.

This was stated in the Fisheries Investment Handbook, with three major sectors of the fishing industry highlighted for investment opportunities capture fisheries, aquaculture and fish processing.

In the fish processing sector, the Department of Fisheries encourages the involvement of foreign companies to form a joint-venture company with local entrepreneurs to further develop the sector.

In view of this, the Department of Fisheries verified the technology for production of other value-added products such as smoked fish from under-utilised fish.

Currently, products sold in the local market include frozen fish, fish crackers, fish balls and cakes, fish nuggets, shrimp paste, marinated fish and dried fish.

The manufacturing sector of Brunei's well-known prawn crackers has seen encouraging growth and the Department of Fisheries will continue to promote such products both locally and in the overseas market. It is anticipated that the product will be soon be available easily overseas.

The Department has allocated two projects to boost the seafood processing industry the Storages and Distribution Centre and the Regional Fisheries Import and Export Centre (HUB).

The main goal of these projects is to develop and expand the continuous supply and marketing of quality fish produce from both the capture and aquaculture industries.

It also aims to provide seafood processing facilities and catalytic mechanisms' for the overall development and expansion of the local seafood industries.

Based on March 2002 statistics, the local market for processed seafood products is estimated to be worth $17 million annually at a sustainable level.

In 2001, total production off processed seafood products was recorded at 273 metric tonnes with a value of $2.6 million.

There is also the domestic requirement for fishmeal, and with the growing aquaculture and chicken farm in the country, the demand is set to increase.

This shows that there are more opportunities still available for expansion and further development in the processing sector. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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