A signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Implementation Research and Development (R&D) Projects on Lobster in Brunei waters was held between the Fisheries Department through the Ministry of Industry of Primary Resources (MIPR) and Darden Aquafarm Inc from United States of America. It took place at Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong yesterday.
According to a press statement from the department, the MoU is to explore the potential of producing lobster in Brunei Darussalam on a commercial scale.

Signing on behalf of MIPR was Hajah Hasnah binte Ibrahim, the Director of Fisheries and while Darden Inc was represented by its Senior Vice President Bill Herzig.

Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, witnessed the signing ceremony. Also present were Hajah Suriyah binte Hj Umar, Permanent Secretary, Mariana binte Pg Dipa Negara Liala DiRaja Pg Hj Abdul Momin, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MIPR, and officials from Darden AquaFarm Inc.

Darden AquaFarm Inc is a subsidiary of Darden Inc located in Orlando, Florida, USA and is the largest chain of full service restaurants in the world with an annual sale of US$7.2 billion and employs about 180,00 workers.

Through its subsidiaries, the company owns and manages more that 1,800 restaurants throughout the US, including the popular food chain restaurant Red lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.

The press statement stated that the R&D cooperation between the Department of Fisheries and Darden AquaFarm Inc would start with “a lobster stock assessment project in the waters of Brunei Darussalam to find out the amount and type of lobsters found in our waters”.

“The outcome of the assessment will determine the direction of subsequent R&D projects for the middle and long term.”

The lobster R&D project is in line with the aspiration of the Department of Fisheries to make Brunei Darussalam the “Centre of Aquaculture Technology and R&D Hub” in the region.

The knowledge and expertise of local officers will be enhanced through active interactions and networking with world-renowned experts and scientists who have extensive expertise in lobster culture.

Lobster commands a very high price and market demand, and the culture of lobster commercially has high potential because of the assured market. The global market demand for lobster reaches 150,000 metric tonnes annually.

However, the demand has not been fully met and the majority of the lobster marketed comes from the wild. This cerates an opportunity for the aquaculture industry to meet the global market demand.

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