July 18, 2023

 

Singapore proposes new regulations for sustainable sea-based fish farms

Singapore is proposing the implementation of new regulations for sea-based fish farms to ensure that aquaculture activities do not harm the marine environment and the country's limited sea space, The Straits Times reported.

 

Koh Poh Koon, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, said that open-net cage farms, which form the majority of aquaculture operations in Singapore, might be required to adopt more sustainable feeding and fish stocking practices. These measures aim to prevent excess nutrients from impacting marine life and causing harmful algal blooms.

 

The proposed regulations, designed as "enabling legislations," are intended to guide the industry towards sustainable development, aligning with Singapore's goal of producing 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030.

 

During a five-day trip to Australia, officials from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, along with fish farmers and academics, sought insights from the more advanced aquaculture sectors in Adelaide and Perth. The trip's primary objective was to strike a balance between fish farm productivity and marine and environmental conservation.

 

Dr Koh suggested that the regulations could be included in the upcoming Bill for Food Safety and Security, announced in Parliament in 2021. The bill, encompassing various aspects of food security and safety, aims to implement measures for sustainable fish growth.

 

Singapore's local aquaculture production yielded around 4,400 tonnes of seafood in 2022, accounting for approximately 7.6% of the total seafood consumed in the country.

 

Since 2020, the authorities have been considering potential aquaculture sites in the Singapore Strait. While Barramundi Asia is the sole deep-sea fish farm in the southern waters, holding three sites, over 100 offshore farms are located along the Johor Strait.

 

In May 2022, marine biologists and nature groups expressed concerns when an environmental impact assessment identified biodiversity-rich areas like Pulau Satumu, Pulau Jong, and Pulau Bukom as potential fish farm locations. Worries centered around the impact on marine life, including the endangered giant clam and coral reefs.

 

As a response, the SFA announced that tenders for two farm sites near Pulau Satumu and Pulau Jong would be postponed until further studies are conducted. However, the tender for a site off Pulau Bukom would proceed, possibly in late 2023, with a focus on a closed containment aquaculture system, believed to be less pollutive than open-net cage farms.

 

-      The Straits Times