Aquaculturing in Singapore

[Gouldian]

Hi guys,

AVA is trying to boost the yield of Singapore Fish Farms stating lack of skill and misuse of space for entertainment. They wanted the farmers to tap into their resources and funds to increase yield or loose their license.

Looks like the Aquaculturing scene in Singapore will be seeing a boost soon!

Source:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1116861/1/.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_646020.html

[Gouldian]

Hi guys,

AVA is trying to boost the yield of Singapore Fish Farms stating lack of skill and misuse of space for entertainment as the main reasons behind the poor performance. They wanted the farmers to tap into their resources and funds to increase yield or loose their license.

Looks like the Aquaculturing scene in Singapore will be seeing a boost soon!

Source:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1116861/1/.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_646020.html

[FuEl]

Nothing to do with misusing space. Offshore farming is in an uncontrolled environment. In such circumstances fish supply can never be guaranteed. Fish farming needs to be moved inland. It's mind boggling why the authorities don't realize this especially after the red tide episode.

[Gouldian]

Nothing to do with misusing space. Offshore farming is in an uncontrolled environment. In such circumstances fish supply can never be guaranteed. Fish farming needs to be moved inland. It's mind boggling why the authorities don't realize this especially after the red tide episode.

Actually on our last trip, we did witness one of the farm moving inland and reaping reward (heard they are the more successful farm).

Anyway, I believe the business opportunities are out there now that some of the poor performing farms may have to buck up or loose their license. Good for companies providing aquaculture supplies and consultancy.

[M3Morph]

Sadly, their funds are only for food fish....

[dryDiver]

so we get more kim-bak-lor n groupers hehe

seriously, has anyone thought of culturing aquascaping rocks as in vanuata at these kelong

[BFG]

Culturing aquascaping rocks do not need a kelong to do so. Access to a beach is good enough but we do have neighbouring country that does this. Imagine the cost of a local aquaculturing rock if it was feasible to have it here in sg. Maybe do it quietly somewhere ?

[xnsdvd]

I vaguely remember posting photos of our attempts at liverock culture somewhere on the forums. As for open sea farming, Fuel is right, the water here is just too polluted to sustain any sort of reliable farm. But one needn't move inland to start a closed loop system.

[dragonfly_sg]

AVA is only interested in food fish production, but food production is not sustainable economically for the farms in Singapore, cost is too high. Take for example a KBL takes $3 /kg (SGD) total cost(feed, man-power, hardware, loss, time, etc) to raise, and when you try to sell to the wholesaler you learn that the Malaysian fish farmers are also selling the same product at $3 /kg(SGD) to them. Number doesn't work out for a Singapore farmer. AVA wants fish farmers in Singapore but they expect it to be like dong National Service to the country, because they wouldn't or can't do anything to help make it a profitable or at least sustainable ( at least to provide for the farmers family ). And you gotta bare in mind that, the farmer also takes the risk of total loss if there is a red tide and other phytoplankton bloom that drains O2 at night, disease outbreak or oil/chemical pollution.

So, the alternative would be to keep higher value stuff you'll think, like lobster, oyster, or even seahorse maybe? If you do that, AVA does not provide support for that so you're on your own there also. So some enterprising farmers charge a fee for anglers fishing on board and provide other non-related activities like that to subsidies themselves.

Of the farms we have, I think less then a third are doing any substantial production and of these some are hemorrhaging. When AVA set the quota for the farmer this year, i wonder if they understand whats the issues are. Another problem is AVA run by bureaucrats that are neither interested in farming or marine system. They definitely have the papers but I wonder if they have the heart? They definitely know the technical part of things but are they really into it. It's just like us marine aquarist, we can learn everything from books and the internet and some of us probably can sit for a marine biology exams and pass with flying colour with all the knowledge, but does that mean we can really keep a success tank?

[icefire]

to be honest. i know a few of such fish farmers off the beaches of pasir ris, changi, ubin. they have never said anything about AVA forcing them to increase their yield.

think that this is only for one or few fish farms which supplies to our local market of sheng shiong and maybe NTUC(not sure about that),

those fish farms in singapore that i know their markets for food(garoupa, ang koi, lobster, crab, ang chor ki etc) are not for locally.

that is strictly due to the fact that

1. these fishes are much much more valued overseas and their prices can sometimes be 5-10 times that price of local market(normal times not during chinese new year).

2. their farms are not affiliated with any markets in singapore, its a more private type.

3. land farming for marine livestock for food is simply too expensive and troublesome.(remember, everything has a price tag on them...)

[Gouldian]

The reason why the government is concentrating of food fishes rather than ornamental is of national interests - to have an alternative source of seafood in case we quarrels will our neighbors or drop of supplies from our neighbors.

However, the truth is that most of the farms here are not able to sell them in locally due to the fact that Singapore is a free market and big boys super marts rather buy direct from oversea due to price. From my limited knowledge most of the fishes are our farms are sold to Hong Kong. icefire is right on this...

There were several efforts to sell their fishes directly to consumers by the Singapore farmers but the demands is low as consumers awareness is low. Some farms tried to create awareness by organizing farms visits but this is against AVA guidelines - Only authorized personnel are allowed on the farms, no casual visitors.

Anyway, I am all for the national interests thingy by AVA but I strongly feels that the bureaucrats will for once think about the farmers survivalabilty issues as well. Like for example encourage some ministries such as Mindef or Home to buy certain percentage from these local farmers. With this, the farmers will be able to have some regular income to sustain their living and when there's a crisis, they will be more willing to sell their fishes to the government.

Just my thoughts.....

[yellowtang]

Really an eye opener. And all the while, i tot these farmers are making great money. Newspapers reports really mask the truth.

mike

[bezz]

I think those that need to listen to AVA are the farms that received government grants from AVA. If a company get some grants, you need to show results...

[Gouldian]

With regards to the grants, I believe it is the same everywhere, recipients will need to justify in order to get $$$ and I totally agree with it.

And I truly believes that the farms will benefit by working hand in hand with AVA.

What I find lacking is the supports from entities down the chain.

Take for example our local produced movies/TV programs, they are willingly accepted by the media owners and the public. These can only be achieve if the Restaurant Owners, Public are aware of these farms.

Yesterday our local media reported that Kranji Countryside Association pitching with our Government to set up a Farmers Market at the old Neo Tiew Market, I feel that this is an example of farmers being pro-active in getting into the black. And I believe our floating farmers should do so as well.

Source:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1193887/1/.html

http://www.kranjicountryside.com/

http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/improve-pore-film-tv-production-lee-thean-jeen-152148686.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-201203211313reedbusivarietynvr1118051725mar21,0,5342709.story

[dkk08]

But seriously funds are really not easy to get... be it for food fish or ornamental fish... somehow the govt will award funds to foreign owned companies rather then local start up companies...

[braincoral]

Land is exp in sg

Do govt really support ?

It's like almost a dream ....

If can make big bucks out of it.

Someone will already started it long

Time ago

[xersion]

Look at seletar farmway, how many farms are being force to move or close down

Xersion @ Tapatalk

[Gouldian]

It is a must for any Government to have a controllable supplies of necessities to help cope hostile situations or natural calamity.

Water is 1 that our Government is very focus on - NEWater, Desalination plants, Waterways.

Fuel, in the form of Crude and Natural Gas are not naturally available in Singapore but through our refineries, we managed to acquire them from different sources and also keep healthy stock pile.

Food, basic food such as eggs are greatly supported by our Government.

Through technology transfers and collaborations, AVA is also working closely with Riau Islands on Vegetables and Food Fishes culturing so that these will be supplied back to Singapore on a regular basis.

Seletar area was ear-marked for residential and aerospace industrial development and it is our Government's visions to move Agriculture to CCK and Sungei Tengah area. In 2007, SLA releases 4 sites in Sungei Tengah on a 20 years lease.

Personally, I find there are adequate plans and considerations by the Government on a macro level but I feel that these plans lack depth as in it does not address the long term livelihood of the floating farmers. I used to have some projects with Chew's Eggs and I am aware of the close relationship between our Government and the farmers, I hope that these closed relationship can be further accorded to the rest of the farmers.

Ref:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/303888/1/.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/305085/1/.html

http://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/index.htm

[bezz]

It takes 2 hands to clap. Gov grants are easy to get if the company applying do some work, don't expect $$ for free. Hell, if the company is not sure what to do, can call the relevant Gov agency and I think they will be more than happy to help you. At least that was what I experience when WDA officers came to talk to me about sending my staff for WDA subsidized training even though I didn't ask for it. They even took time to have several meetings with my HR Dept to walk us thru the steps to get the 95% training grant.

To receive help, one just need to show some sincerity and effort towards the common goal...

[Gouldian]

It takes 2 hands to clap. Gov grants are easy to get if the company applying do some work, don't expect $$ for free. Hell, if the company is not sure what to do, can call the relevant Gov agency and I think they will be more than happy to help you. At least that was what I experience when WDA officers came to talk to me about sending my staff for WDA subsidized training even though I didn't ask for it. They even took time to have several meetings with my HR Dept to walk us thru the steps to get the 95% training grant.

To receive help, one just need to show some sincerity and effort towards the common goal...

Ditto..

Don't expect to be spoon fed, I don't think any taxpayers will agree to Gov freely giving out grants / assistances without efforts from the receiving party.

[dkk08]

Of course we cannot wait to be spoon fed, just that recent cases that I know of that seems to favour foreign companies more den local start up companies...