The coastal resources of Brunei Darussalam: status, utilization and management

Abstract

The coastal zones of most nations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are subjected to increasing population and economic pressures manifested by a variety of coastal activities, notably, fishing, coastal aquaculture, waste disposal, salt-making, tin mining, oil drilling, tanker traffic, construction and industrialization. This situation is aggravated by the expanding economic activities attempting to uplift the standard of living of coastal people, the majority of whom live below the official poverty line. Some ASEAN members have formulated regulatory measures for their coastal resources management (CRM) such as the issuance of permits for fishing, logging, mangrove harvesting, etc. However, most of these measures have not proven effective due partly to enforcement failure and largely to lack of support for the communities concerned. Brunei Darussalam has actively participated in the development of its Coasatal Resources Management (CRM) plan and the research necessary to the planning process. This publication, a product of a series of studies and consultations under the Brunei component of ASEANIUS CRMP, contains the elements that would make an operational CRM plan for the country a reality.