Ocean Week Brunei 2026 was officially launched at the Pro Chancellor Arts Centre, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, bringing together government agencies, industry leaders, researchers, schools, youth organisations, conservationists, communities and international partners under the theme “Ocean of Opportunities: Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future.”
The launch event attracted more than 150 participants from government agencies, the diplomatic corps, industry, academia, non-governmental organisations, youth groups, sponsors, partners and ocean advocates. Organised by Poni Foundation, the event marked the start of a month-long programme focused on ocean sustainability, marine conservation, community livelihoods and Brunei Darussalam’s emerging blue economy opportunities.
In her welcoming address, Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abd Wahab, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, highlighted the growing importance of the ocean to Brunei, not only as a source of food security, livelihoods, biodiversity and cultural identity, but also as a driver of sustainable economic growth.
She said Ocean Week Brunei has evolved beyond a series of events into an important national platform that brings together stakeholders from different sectors to share knowledge, build partnerships, engage communities and turn ideas into practical action. She also highlighted Brunei’s potential in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, eco-tourism, ocean research and community-based conservation initiatives.
The Permanent Secretary noted that these efforts align with Wawasan Brunei 2035 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water. She stressed that ocean sustainability requires collaboration across government, academia, industry, NGOs, communities, youth and the private sector.
Delivering the keynote address titled From Ocean Resources to Ocean Prosperity: Building Brunei’s Next Generation Blue Economy, Professor Wei Zhang FTSE of the Fujian Ocean Innovation Centre of China said Brunei has a unique opportunity to transform its marine resources into a new engine for economic growth, food security, innovation and sustainable development.
Professor Zhang said Brunei does not need to compete with larger economies on scale, but can instead position itself as a premium, trusted and sustainability-focused blue economy built on quality, governance, innovation and strategic partnerships.
He described the ocean as more than a natural resource, noting its role as a climate system, food system, biodiversity system, transport network, innovation platform and economic asset.
Among Brunei’s advantages, he cited political stability, strong governance, a strategic location in ASEAN and Borneo, rich marine ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture potential, halal integrity and strong community values. He identified opportunities in sustainable aquaculture, premium seafood production, marine biotechnology, circular waste-to-value industries, marine biorefineries, ocean intelligence, artificial intelligence-enabled marine management and halal blue products.
Professor Zhang said marine biotechnology could support high-value industries through the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, health products, feed ingredients and biomaterials derived from marine biodiversity. He also highlighted the potential of the circular blue bioeconomy, where fish, shrimp, shellfish and seaweed by-products can be transformed into valuable products rather than discarded as waste.
Another opportunity highlighted was the halal blue bioeconomy, which combines sustainability, traceability and product integrity with access to premium global markets.
He also emphasised the growing importance of ocean data and artificial intelligence in monitoring water quality, biodiversity, fish health, coastal risks, pollution and climate impacts.
Professor Zhang noted that blue economy development ultimately depends on effective governance, as ocean-related issues cut across fisheries, tourism, transport, environment, food security, trade, investment, research and education. He recommended that Brunei consider developing a National Blue Economy Strategy and Roadmap 2035 to guide future priorities, investment pathways, partnerships and measurable outcomes.
Speaking at the launch, Poni Foundation Chairman and Poni Group CEO Mohd Tahsin Wong Abdullah reflected on the growth of Ocean Week Brunei from a single conservation initiative into a national platform.
He said the 2026 edition features 14 events over four weeks and focuses on moving beyond discussions towards practical projects that create jobs, support communities and generate measurable environmental impact.
According to Mohd Tahsin Wong, Ocean Week Brunei began with a simple question of how sustainability conversations could be translated into meaningful action. Since the Brunei Reef Ball Programme in 2023, supported by the Reef Ball Foundation in Florida, the initiative has expanded through partnerships across Canada, Indonesia, China, Australia, Sabah and Timor-Leste.
A key highlight of this year’s launch was the introduction of three flagship blue economy pilot projects designed to demonstrate how conservation and economic opportunity can work together.
The first, Carbon AKAR, focuses on mangrove restoration, blue carbon initiatives and carbon impact solutions for businesses. The project aims to help companies reduce their environmental footprint through mangrove planting while creating jobs and income opportunities for local communities involved in restoration activities.
The second, Warisan Oyster, is a 10-year river restoration initiative developed in partnership with Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. The project focuses on oyster reef restoration, sustainable oyster cultivation and water quality improvement at Kampong Bolkiah. It also explores blue carbon credits and nature-based financing mechanisms to support long-term sustainability.
The third pilot, TRACKS Brunei, focuses on sea turtle conservation, public education, biodiversity monitoring, research, coastal tourism and marine technology. The initiative aims to strengthen turtle protection efforts while creating opportunities for youth engagement, community participation and future ocean-related careers.
Mohd Tahsin Wong also highlighted ambitions to explore marine biotechnology opportunities, including converting fish farm waste into marine probiotics and calcium supplements, demonstrating how environmental challenges can be transformed into new industries.
In her closing remarks, Anna Aziz, President of Poni Foundation and Chief Business Officer of Poni Group, said the blue economy is no longer a future concept but a real opportunity for Brunei to create jobs, foster innovation and generate sustainable economic growth.
She emphasised that building a successful blue economy would require investment, research, technology, good governance and strong community participation.
Anna Aziz also acknowledged Universiti Brunei Darussalam as the education partner and host of the launch, highlighting the important role of universities in connecting research, innovation, students and national development.
The launch also featured the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with international marine research and ocean development partners from China. Collaborations were formalised with the Fourth Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China; the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China; and the Academy of Oceanography, Guangxi Oceanic Administration, China.
Additional collaboration with Oriental University of Timor-Leste and Assosiasaun Mariñeiru Timor-Leste was also highlighted, supporting future knowledge exchange, capacity building and blue economy development between Brunei and Timor-Leste.
Ocean Week Brunei 2026 will continue throughout June and July with a series of public programmes, conservation projects, exhibitions, forums and networking events. Activities include the Ocean Sustainability Conference, Big Blue Hope Coral Planting Dive, Brunei Ocean Exhibition, mangrove restoration initiatives, community outreach projects, youth forums and the Ocean Champions Awards.
Through this year’s programme, Ocean Week Brunei 2026 aims to strengthen collaboration between government, industry, academia, communities, youth and international partners while encouraging practical participation in projects that create environmental, social and economic impact.
The initiative seeks to build greater public understanding of the importance of the ocean and the role it plays in Brunei’s future prosperity, resilience and sustainable development.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
