Poni Divers and Poni Foundation, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), organised the Ocean Sustainability Conference at Laksamana College of Business yesterday.
Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab was the guest of honour.
“This conference is a call to action. Today, we will look into pressing issues, share innovative solutions, and forge partnerships that transcend borders and disciplines. Our goal is clear: to inspire, to educate, and most importantly, to act. I got asked once, what’s the greatest threat to the ocean and I said, inaction,” said Poni Foundation founder Mohd Tahsin Wong Abdullah in his welcoming speech.
“Not doing anything when we can easily do so. I heard this quote that really stuck with me, by Dr Sylvia Earle, one of the world’s most famous marine biologist, who said, ‘We are the luckiest generation because we know how to solve the problem. All it takes is will’,” he added.
Meanwhile, Poni Group Business Development Director Anna Aziz said, “The knowledge we have gained, the connections we have made, and the inspiration we have felt over these past days must now translate into tangible actions.
“Let us carry forward the momentum from this conference into our daily lives, our communities, and our policies. Let us be the advocates, the leaders, and the change-makers our oceans so desperately need.”
Todd Barber of the Reef Ball Foundation in Florida, United States (US) delved into the groundbreaking invention of reef balls, designed to restore and enhance marine habitats.
During an online session, Amber Sparks from Blue Latitudes and James Burns from Hearthstone Capital delved into ‘Sustainable Solutions for Decommissioning Oil Rigs’, exploring responsible strategies for mitigating environmental impacts during the decommissioning process. The discussion focused on innovative approaches to minimise ecological disruption while ensuring the safe retirement of oil rig infrastructure.
James Bali from Sarawak Forestry Corporation shared narratives of the ‘Success Next Door: the Sarawak Reef Ball Project’, shedding light on the positive outcomes resulting from community-driven conservation efforts. Commenced in 1998, the project was launched to protect endangered marine turtles and their critical habitats.
The session on ‘Applying Sustainable Ocean Solutions’ saw a comprehensive exploration into practical methodologies for integrating sustainable practices across diverse ocean-related initiatives.
Todd Barber and Mohd Tahsin Wong spoke on the intricacies of sustainable ocean management. Through insightful discussions and real-world examples, the two speakers highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable practices to promote the long-term health and resilience of our oceans.
A session was also held on ‘National Policies and Actions for Local Seas’, where James Burns, Yusri Yahya from the Sustainable Development Goals Unit at the Prime Minister’s Office and Azizi Mahali from the Department of Fisheries underscored the critical role of governmental policies and initiatives in safeguarding local marine environments and called for coordinated action and collaborative strategies to address pressing challenges.
Meanwhile, Dr Neil Hartstein from ADS Environmental Services led the discussion on ‘Geospatial Planning and Climate Change Modelling’ which dived into the utilisation of advanced technology and data analysis to tackle the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
High Commissioner of Canada to Brunei Darussalam Ambra Dickie, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Brunei Darussalam Abel Guterres, Australian Deputy High Commissioner in Brunei Darussalam David van der Zwaag, Sabrina Shofry from the British High Commission in Brunei Darussalam; First Secretary (Politics) from the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam Tengku Muhammad Faiz bin Tenku Sulaiman, Officer from the Philippines Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Alec Arenas and Diplomatic Officer from the Philippines Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Ram Lacambacal, Director of Department of Fisheries Hajah Wanidawati binti Haji Tamat and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Chief Marketing Officer Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar also attended. – Adib Noor
