15 April 2005
Brunei H.Z. Azam Enterprise, the owner of the Azam-1 fishing ship (Kapal Lingkong), has created history in the Brunei fishing industry by being the first fishing ship to have successfully caught tuna in the deep seas of Brunei since it began operations nine months ago.
Managing Director of H.Z. Azam Enterprise Hj Zaini bin Hj Mohd Zain, who was speaking to the Bulletin at the Fish Landing Complex in Muara earlier this week, pointed out that they have caught 39 tonnes of tuna within their three trips out to sea. Besides tuna, they also caught other fishes locally known as 'Bekulan'.
According to Hj Zaini, fresh tuna are sold at $10 per kilo whereas Bekulan at $2 per kilo at the Gadong wet markets.
However, he lamented that there was low demand for tuna in the local market. In light of this, Hj Zaini is currently planning to export tuna fish to foreign markets, if approved by the Fishery Department.
He believes that this approach could help local SMEs in the country by boosting business as demand for tuna in foreign markets such as in Japan and Taiwan were higher.
The catches of tuna fish are now kept frozen at the storage of Fishery Department at Fish Landing Complex in Muara. Those interested to make a purchase can contact Awie at 8885577.
Meanwhile, Hj Zaini said that his $400,000 fishing ship is one of the most modem fishing ships in the country. Tuna can be found in the deep seas of Brunei between March and October.
