BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: As part of Ocean Week Brunei 2026 and the wider Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) initiatives, a screening of the documentary The Invisible Catch (2026) was held at One Cineplex, One City Shopping Centre Monday (June 8).
Organised by the Poni Foundation as a public engagement programme, the event attracted approximately 500 attendees across three dedicated screenings held throughout the day.
These included a special screening for students, a VIP screening for Ocean Week Brunei partners and stakeholders, and a public screening open to members of the community. All three screenings were attended by representatives from the Australian High Commission in Brunei, with High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Michael Hoy attending the VIP screening.
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Datuk Mohd Aini Atan and Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Brunei Abel Guterres were also present.
The event brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, students, researchers, conservationists, youth and the public to discuss one of the challenges facing the world’s oceans: Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Following the screening, the audience participated in a panel discussion moderated by Nuur Aqilah Ali. The panel included the directors of the film Harrison Yap from New Wave Films and Aziz Idris from Poni Studios, as well as Siu Tzyy Wei from Global Awareness and Impact Alliance (GAIA) and Terrance Lim from Stop Fish Bombing (SFB) Malaysia.
The panellists discussed how IUU fishing is not just an environmental issue but also a serious economic and security challenge, as it weakens responsible fishing practices, depletes fish populations, damages fragile marine ecosystems, and directly threatens food security and the long-term resilience of coastal communities.
The panellists also touched on how Brunei can continue to lead and contribute to a sustainable maritime future through regional collaboration, stronger enforcement and public education.
The event proved to be far more than just a film night, serving as a platform for dialogue and learning. By connecting the dots between policy, enforcement and the seafood consumers eat, the documentary demonstrated that illegal fishing is not a distant problem, but a local reality.
The screening reflects Poni Foundation’s use of film, photography and ocean storytelling to communicate science and sustainability issues to a wider audience. Through Poni Studios, the organisation has produced visual media focused on conservation awareness.
As ocean pressures continue to increase, organisers noted the importance of collective efforts to protect marine resources.
The screening of The Invisible Catch (2026) formed part of a wider series of Ocean Week Brunei programmes covering coral restoration, blue economy initiatives and youth engagement – all aimed at turning conversations into practical collaboration, future jobs and long-term environmental impact for Brunei.
The documentary was produced by Poni Studios in collaboration with New Wave Films and commissioned by the Australian High Commission in Brunei. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
