The participants in a group photo. - PONI MARINE
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Ocean Week Brunei 2024 concluded here recently with several achievements in marine conservation, sustainable practices and community engagement which have set the stage for future initiatives aimed at protecting ocean resources
Ocean Week Brunei 2024 is an initiative by Poni Divers and Poni Foundation in partnership with the Department of Fisheries at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism as part of the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) 2024.
The official launch on May 31 saw the deployment of the 100th reef ball, followed with the reef ball fabricator engaging the local fishing community, teaching 10 fishermen and 18 youth how to fabricate reef balls, as well as a donation of 50 reef balls to the fishing community.
The following day, some 25 youth deployed 10 reef balls and planted 60 corals as part of Reef Ball Discovery.
The Future Ocean Changemakers Youth Forum at Laksamana College of Business (LCB) saw 135 youth participate, including students from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Politeknik Brunei, Institute of Brunei Technical Education, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali and LCB.
Its youth-focused panel discussions featured local and international conservation experts sharing insights on how to make sustainable change and positive impact where it matters.
Meanwhile, Poni Divers also hosted a special programme for 26 orphans from Kampong Panchor Mengkubau Zones 4 and 5 Village Consultative Council and RPN Kampong Bukit Beruang where they could snorkel and learn about coral on June 4.
A national record – officiated by the Brunei Book of Records – was achieved for planting 210 corals under the Big Blue Hope initiative on June 5 and included 79 divers and snorkellers from Ocean Week Brunei sponsors, government stakeholders, non-governmental organisations and embassies.
The Ocean Sustainability Conference on June 6 – which drew 80 participants – aimed to address critical issues concerning ocean sustainability, featuring speakers from the United States and Malaysia, with the panel discussing topics such as sustainable solutions for oceans and decommissioning oil rigs and the success of their marine conservation projects.
The Coastal Marvel saw 364 participants join forces for a successful beach clean-up, collecting 554 kilogrammes of waste at Meragang Beach.
The final event culminating on World Oceans Day was celebrated by 71 participants.
The event saw the launch of the world’s first LAUT Midi reef ball, a reef ball especially designed for Brunei waters, officiated by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Abdul Manaf Metussin.
In total, over 100 reef balls were deployed, with over 300 corals planted and over 900 people reached through the week directly and over 100,000 more engaged through radio, television, digital and print media.
Key actions to be taken to propel the sultanate towards greater achievements include: launch of the LAUT Brunei (Looking After Underwater Treasures of Brunei) Ambassador Programme, a new initiative aimed at recruiting and training local ambassadors to advocate for ocean sustainability within their communities; implementation of marine protection policies and working closely with policymakers to share on-the-ground information to support the development and enforcement of regulations that safeguard marine biodiversity and promote sustainable practices; and enhanced public awareness through targeted campaigns and school talks, emphasising the importance of taking action in preserving our oceans.
The success of Ocean Week Brunei 2024 underscores the collective commitment to ocean sustainability.
The goal now is to translate the awareness that was raised and the knowledge gained into tangible actions. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
