Events show importance of oceans

Minister of Industry and Primary Resources posing with officials as well as winners of a drawing contest held in conjunction with World Oceans Day 2011. - DEAN KASSIN



In celebration of World Oceans Day 2011 that falls on June 8 worldwide, which carries the theme "Our Oceans: Greening our Future", the Fisheries Department has held, and is holding, numerous activities for students that aim to raise awareness on the importance of oceans.

One activity was a drawing competition that was held from January to March 2011, especially for the Asean-Seafdec Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020 with the theme "Fish for the People 2020: Adaptation to a Changing Environment".

Winners for the drawing competition, aged between 12 and 15 years old, were feted yesterday where the best four drawings will be displayed at the conference in Bangkok this month.

As part of the celebrations, Brunei Darussalam also released the National Plan of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which was launched by the minister yesterday and distributed to enforcement agencies such as the Navy, Marine Police and Air Force that will be assisting the Fisheries Department in monitoring and controlling the fishing industry.

The community is also invited to visit the new fisheries building in Serasa where a five-day exhibition is showcasing the work done by the Fisheries Department in preserving the ocean.


Article taken from 9th June Borneo Bulletin's issue

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