Brunei May Have Found New Fish Species

Danial Norjidi BruDirect.com 16 Sep 09;

Bandar Seri Begawan - Has Brunei's Department of Fisheries stumbled upon a new species of fish?

"It's highly likely," said Syah Haji Mohd Ibrahim, Research and Development at the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

"From a survey that we carried out last year and this year we actually found a fish that has not been identified worldwide it's a new species, and does not have a name to it yet.

"We sent it for identification to make sure and be 100 per cent certain, so we're still waiting for it, but the experts that came down said that the probabilities are quite high that no one has identified this species before.

"If it is indeed a new species, then we have the right to name it," he added.

All this goes to show that Brunei possesses what seems to be an amazing array of reefs full of potential in many different fields, particularly science and even eco-tourism.

The Department of Fisheries continues to ensure the conservation of Brunei's reefs, and their efforts in setting up artificial reefs in the 1990s are paying rich dividends now.

According to a diver, "Brunei has some absolutely beautiful coral reef', and "the Fisheries Department has done an amazing job to preserve it.

"It's amazing when you dive down and see the reefs Brunei have," said another. "Clear blue waters, corals. It's fantastic."

Another diver said, "I like the reefs in Brunei, particularly the rigs reefs. Brunei is a great place for divers."

Syah said, "Basically, you have two types of reefs. You have the coral reef and the artificial reef. Coral reef naturally grows there. Artificial reef is put there by man, and can come in the form of concrete, metal, rubber and a few other mixtures."

Syah also shared information about the different sites in Brunei where reefs could be found.

Surveyed sites include Champion Oil field, Silk Rock, Brunei Patches, Victoria Patches and many more.

The artificial reefs include shipwrecks such as the Bolkiah Wreck, Australian Wreck and American Wreck.

The artificial reefs also include platforms and old rigs, as well as the pyramid reef.

According to information found on the Department of Fisheries website, the Department of Fisheries built the first artificial reef in Brunei Darussalam in 1985 under the Fifth National Development Project. It was made up of large number of modules of tyres tied to provide a pyramidal configuration. A total of 20,000 used vehicle tyres were used and the project was completed in 1990.

Encouraged by the success of the tyre reef, the department embarked on another artificial reef programme in 1988. Based on a mutual agreement between the department and Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP), two redundant offshore oil platforms were placed on the seabed northwest of the original tyre reef at Two Fathom Rocks. This programme was the first in the Asian region where redundant oil platforms were made into intentionally built artificial rig reefs. A second "Rig Reef' made up of five redundant rig jackets was built at Two Fathom Rocks in 1994.

The programme continued in 1997 when the department constructed several artificial reefs made from galvanised pipes. The pipes were formed into pyramidal shape and deployed at several strategic locations.

"When you have artificial reefs, the coverage of corals on the reefs is mostly soft corals. You have a hard and soft coral; that's basically how you divide them," Syah said.

"Soft corals colonise really fast. Hard corals have a calcium carbonate skeleton and grow really slow. Some take a year to grow, some take 10 years.

"So when you deploy any artificial reef, most probably 90 per cent of the reef will be inhabited by soft corals. The problem with soft corals is that they do not contribute to the growth of the reef, they just colonise.

"Hard corals grow, and once they die they leave their intact skeletons behind, and this forms a base which is sturdy, so new coral larvae can grow and that is how reefs are formed," he added.

Syah also spoke of reef conservation and the importance of preserving Brunei's reefs.

According to the Department of Fisheries website, "Reef conservation is of immediate concern and this is an area where Brunei is setting an example by establishing protected areas and marine parks and establishing artificial reefs to encourage marine growth and regenerate the coastal waters."

When asked about the marine life in Brunei, Syah said: "In Brunei patches alone there are over 200 species of marine life."-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin