Temburong: In a significant move to restore and increase the natural habitat and population of the Giant Freshwater Prawn, the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism launched the Giant Freshwater Prawn Restocking Programme at Sungai Labu area, Temburong District. This initiative is part of the Brunei Darussalam Expedition and Conference on Marine Sustainability, which is taking place throughout May and June this year.

According to Radio Television Brunei, the launch was officiated by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism. The programme aims to restore the species, which has become endangered due to overfishing and environmental factors. The Giant Freshwater Prawn is crucial for maintaining the balance of river ecosystems and serves as a source of food and income for local communities.

This iteration of the programme saw the release of 200,000 Giant Freshwater Prawn hatchlings. Since 2022, nearly 600,000 hatchlings have been released. The Fisheries Department aims to release 100,000 hatchlings annually as part of ongoing efforts to preserve river ecosystem balance and raise public awareness about the importance of conserving aquatic resources.