(Refer to Map 2 of Appendix for MPA sites and other relevant areas)

1.1 Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Sandy beaches, mud flats and estuaries with mangrove and peat swamps dominate the coastal zone of Brunei Darussalam (e.g. IUCN/WCMC 1992). Of the 33 islands in the country, all except two are located in river or estuarine environments consisting of mangrove swamps or shifting vegetation (Chua, Chou and Sadorra 1987; DOF-MIPR 1992). Brunei Darussalam is estimated to have 184 km2 of mangroves. These are mostly found on the coast of Temburong (East Brunei Darussalam) and between Tutong and Telisai (West Brunei Darussalam) (Spalding et al. 1997).

The only two oceanic islands, Pelong Rocks and Pulau Punyit are fringed with corals. Coral reefs are not well developed due to the high turbidity caused by runoff from four major rivers and coastal development projects. Total known reef area is merely 45 km2 and is mostly confined to five areas far from the shore on offshore islands and shoals (the two largest areas being Ampa and Victoria patches off the coasts of Tutong and Telisai) (DOF-MIPR 1992). The reefs of the Champion Central Reef complex, Pelong Rocks, Pulau Punyit and Two Fathom Rocks have been studied by UP-MSI (unpublished) and Chou et al. (DOF-MIPR 1992). Seagrass beds are uncommon. The only reference to seagrasses in Brunei Darussalam is on Halophila on the sandy shores of south Brunei Darussalam (DOF-MIPR 1992).

1.2 Species of Significance
Mangroves along the coast and on the islands together with other coastal vegetation harbour at least four species of mammals (e.g. proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) and flying foxes), nine birds and two reptiles, all listed in the IUCN Red List (DOF-MIPR 1992). For the coral reefs, 185 species from 71 genera of hard corals and over 150 species of fish from 30 families have been recorded. The number of fish species is likely to be much higher than reported. Three species of marine turtles, namely the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), are found nesting along the beaches mainly on the western part of Brunei Darussalam. The entire country is part of biogeographic sub-region I-8, which it shares with Eastern Malaysia (Kelleher et al. 1995).

1.3 Legislation and Management Framework
The Brunei Museum is responsible for wildlife protection, the Department of Fisheries, for the protection of living marine resources, and the Department of Forestry, for forest (including mangrove) reserves (IUCN/WCMC 1992). The latter two departments are within the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. Up until 1992, there was no single environmental authority. The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and the Ministry of Development dealt with issues concerning the coastal zone (DOF-MIPR 1992). The National Committee on the Environment (NCE) is an inter-agency consultative body established in 1993 with representation from the relevant government departments and units that are concerned with the environment. The NCE, which is chaired by the Minister of Development, is tasked with providing the framework and coordinating environmental management. The Environment Unit within the Ministry of Development serves as the NCE’s secretariat. In 1994, the NCE formed both the Solid Waste Management and Water Resources Management working groups (Tan 2000).

“Non-government conservation organisations include the Brunei Nature Society, based in Bandar Seri Begawan and the Panaga Natural History Society, based in Seria and run under the auspices of the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd.” (IUCN/WCMC 1992).

Logging as an industry and export-earner has been stopped, and the remaining rainforests are protected by law (Tan 2000). Commercial fisheries, mainly trawlers and purse seiners owned by Malay and Thai expatriates, are not allowed to operate less than 3 miles from the coast. Several NGOs (e.g. Brunei Nature Society, Brunei Yacht Club and Brunei Sub-Aqua Club) are interested in promoting environmental awareness.

The Convention on Biological Diversity has not yet been ratified by Brunei Darussalam (as of January 1999) although the ASEAN Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, UNCLOS and MARPOL have been ratified. No World Heritage or UNESCO MAB sites have been declared in Brunei Darussalam.

1.4 Extent of Existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) System

Two small marine wildlife sanctuaries (islands) with coral reefs, Pelong Rocks (2 ha.) and Pulau Punyit (8 ha.), have been protected as historical sites through the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Enactment (1967), with a view of protecting their fauna and flora. One nature reserve, Pulau Berembang Nature Reserve (721 ha.), contains mangroves. Pulau Siarau has unofficially been declared by the Brunei Museum as a conservation area to protect flying foxes and proboscis monkeys therein (488 ha., including mangrove). Labu Selirong, which contains a large area of mangrove, is a production forest reserve (14,348 + 2,566 ha.). Spalding et al. (1997) reported that a total of 50% of Brunei Darussalam’s mangroves has been set aside for conservation but it could not be determined whether this referred to a portion of the mangroves in Labu Selirong, which is actually a production forest reserve. A Pulau Chermin Reserve has been cited by Bleakley and Wells (1995) though this has not been retained in the WCMC database of protected areas.

1.5 Proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
The Integrated Management Plan for the Coastal Zone has proposed that all 33 islands of the country be classified into any of three categories: General use, Conservation and Protection (DOF-MIPR 1992). Twenty-one islands have been selected for protection (i.e. highest level of protection is afforded for biodiversity preservation), 10 for conservation (i.e. where regulated ecotourism, education, research and sustainable resource exploitation are allowed) and two for general use. Pelong Rocks has been classified for Conservation, and Punyit, for Protection.

1.6 Evaluation of MPAs - Status, Threats and Management
About 85% of the population lives in the coastal area. The major threats to the coastal and marine environment are coastal erosion and increased siltation from gravel and beach sand mining, and quarrying on hillsides (DOF-MIPR 1992). The continuous demand for sand and gravel for landfills and construction is likely to intensify the problems of soil and coastal erosion and increased siltation in the coastal waters. Coastal development, and domestic, agricultural and oil pollution are also major threats to the coastal environment of Brunei Darussalam. The active petroleum industry and marine traffic locally and in neighbouring Malaysia impose tremendous hazards of oil pollution. This hazard has been recognised and a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan has been approved.

There appears to be little, if any, threat from destructive fishing (Figure 1.1; WRI 2002) or overfishing (Chou et al. 1992), although shrimp resources are believed to be over exploited. The limited coral reefs are not heavily exploited but are under increasing threats from environmental degradation. There may be some blast fishing, possibly by foreign fishermen, but this has yet to be verified. The Department of Fisheries has deployed a large number of artificial reefs around patch reefs to deter commercial vessels and attract marine life.

Mangroves outside reserves are mainly used for timber (Spalding et al. 1997). Bark stripping, encroachment by aquaculture farms, settlement or other uses are also common outside reserve areas.

The Coastal Zone Management Plan prepared under the ASEAN-US Coastal Resources Management Project has been implemented on a case-to-case basis. The Department of Fisheries has been implementing some of the Plan’s recommendations (Sabri Haji Mohd. Taha. pers. comm.).

1.7 Priority Sites
Based on limited information, the 21 islands proposed for protection warrant high priority. Of these islands, only Pulau Punyit is fringed with coral reefs while the rest are primarily mangrove areas.

1.8 Priority Actions

A. Fully implement the comprehensive Integrated Management Plan for the Coastal Zone of Brunei Darussalam, which stipulates a wide range of programmes covering water quality control, marine resource exploitation, island management, transnational collaboration (with Malaysia), research, and legal provisions (DOFMIPR 1992).

B. Reclassify Labu Selirong from a production forest reserve to a protection forest or conservation area.

C. “One of the strategies included in the National Environment Strategy of Brunei Darussalam is the Strategy on Protection of Coastal and Marine Environmental Resources. This strategy comprises the following programmes:

1) Strengthen Coastal Water Quality Management Programme;
2) Operationalise the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan;
3) Examine IMO conventions for their possible ratification;
4) Strengthen mangrove management;
5) Strengthen coral / artificial reef management;
6) Designate marine wildlife sanctuaries; and
7) Prevent coastal erosion.

D. Develop fisheries and MPA legislation and policies, water quality and MPA management plans and personnel (ICRI 1997)