"The 12th Celebrate The Sea Festival will Perhaps Be The Most Significant Festival To Date.Therefore, Brunei Darussalam Wish To Take This Opportunity To Make A Landmark Declaration Today:
That With The Consent Of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, The Sultan And Yang Di-Pertuan Of Brunei Darussalam, The Government Of His Majesty Through The Department Of Fisheries Will Enforce The Ban On The Catch And landings Of All Shark Species From The Waters Of Brunei Darussalam And Thus Their Sales In Domestic Market. Furthermore, The Government Of His Majesty Will Also Now Officially Enforce The Ban On The Importation And Trade Of Sharks Products Which Has Been In Place Since August 2012. These Measure Are, Probably, The World's First Commitment By Any Country. The rational behind this Declaration are: firstly, our
concern on food security; and secondly the environmental consideration."
Speech extract by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar for World Ocean Day 2013.
8th June 2013