Poni Divers yesterday hosted a special programme for orphans from Kampong Panchor Mengkubau Zone 4 and 5 Village Consultative Council and RPN Kampong Bukit Beruang to celebrate Ocean Week Brunei.
Some 26 participants attended the event, along with representatives from sponsors Progresif Sdn Bhd and Anson International Sdn Bhd.
The day kicked off with a comprehensive marine conservation workshop, equipping young minds with the knowledge and tools to protect the underwater world.
During the marine conservation workshop, project executive of Poni Divers Ali bin Haji Bini said, “The Sultanate’s coral reef has 410 coral species and 711 fish species. There are six Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in Brunei’s water, covering an area of 182 square kilometres, and currently over 30 shipwrecks and over 30 coral reef spots.”
He also highlighted that among the threats to coral reefs are the direct impacts of human activities.
The workshop also featured a snorkelling adventure at Pelong Rocks, a snorkelling site teeming with marine life, allowing participants to witness firsthand the beauty and fragility of the marine ecosystem they learned about in the workshop.
Poni Divers is committed to fostering a sense of environmental responsibility within the community.
By engaging young people in interactive workshops and showcasing the wonders of the underwater world, Poni Divers hopes to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.
Ocean Week Brunei, organised by Poni Divers and Poni Foundation in partnership with the Department of Fisheries at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, sets a precedent as a platform uniting stakeholders from business, government, civil society, and academia to address pertinent marine conservation challenges, both locally and globally to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards and equip them with the skills for nurturing a sustainable future for the Sultanate’s blue economy. – James Kon
