Why is Singapore producing fish to export? SFA replies

I had a lot of questions when SFA announced in May 2202 plans, under "30-by-30", to further expand fish farming in our southern waters, near some of our best reefs and shores.

The richest reefs of Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse)
is one of the planned locations for new fish farms.

The plans surprised me because it seems much of the fish currently produced in the area is EXPORTED. Wouldn't it make more sense to first ensure all the fish currently produced are actually eaten by Singapore residents? Before we risk our marine biodiversity to produce MORE fish just for export? And I had more questions.

In Mar 2023, Louis Ng helped send these questions to Dr Koh Poh Koon who sent them to SFA.

In May 2023, I finally received this reply that I can post publicly.

Why is Singapore producing fish to export?

There are plans, under "30-by-30", to further expand fish farming in our southern waters, near some of our best reefs and shores. 

The richest reefs of Pulau Satumu (Raffles Lighthouse)
is one of the planned locations for new fish farms.

I am surprised because it seems much of the fish currently produced in the area is EXPORTED. Wouldn't it make more sense to first ensure all the fish currently produced are actually eaten by Singapore residents? Before we risk our marine biodiversity to produce MORE fish just for export? And I have more questions...

Send YOUR questions in too: Ms Lim Swee Keng at lim_swee_keng@sfa.gov.sg The public feedback exercise ends 1 June.

Preparing for plankton bloom in the East Johor Strait?

A "sentinel fish cage to monitor the water quality and the impact of plankton on sensitive fish species" will be installed off Seletar Dam for six months until Mar 2017, by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

While it's good to know that serious effort is being taken to monitor water quality in the East Johor Strait, I wonder why this site was chosen? It is not close to where most of the AVA-licenced fish farms in the East Johor Strait are located. These are mostly found between Pulau Ubin and Pasir Ris.

Massive bright green bloom at Kranji Reservoir: what impact?

There is now a massive bloom that turned Kranji Reservoir bright green as far as I could see from the sluice gate.

I have no idea what caused it, but usually, such a phenomenon is attributed to a bloom of freshwater algae or cyanobacteria. What are the implications of such a bloom? In particular, will it affect people and marine life (and fish farming) in the Johor Strait nearby?

What water quality issues happening now in the West Johor Strait?

Yesterday, there was an MPA Notice that silt curtains will be installed at the Tuas Spring Desalination Plant.  Why would a silt curtain be needed now?

Tuas Spring Desalination Plant facing the sea.
Photo from the PUB Annual Report 2013

Is there an ongoing algae bloom in the West Johor Strait? When this action was taken in Mar 2015, PUB explained that "it was installing the silt curtains at the intake points of Singapore’s two desalination plants, as it had noticed a slight increase in levels of algae in the seawater around that area."

Or is this in response to the massive oil spill reported last week in the area?

Dead fishes at Lim Chu Kang, 19 Jul 2016

I checked up on Lim Chu Kang Jetty again. There are no freshly dead fishes, but the 'old' dead fishes are still there. And once again, I saw a truckload of expired biscuits being delivered, probably to be fed to the farmed fishes.

Why are hundreds of dead fishes washing up at Lim Chu Kang? The explanation given to the media so far, no fish losses "beyond normal losses", deaths attributed to low dissolved oxygen and not to plankton bloom. But how can this be "normal losses" when we don't normally see this many dead fishes washing up at Lim Chu Kang? And even if they were "normal losses" why are farms allowed to dump their dead fishes into the sea?

Dead fishes at West Johor Strait, 17-18 Jul 2016

Hundreds of dead fishes have been seen washing up at West Johor Strait over the last two days.

Most of the dead fishes were about the same size and look like the milkfish farmed by the largest fish farm in that area. Has there been another mass fish death among the fish farms in the West Johor Strait? If so, what caused it? What does this mean for public health? What can and has been done to improve ecosystem health in the area to prevent a recurrence?

Singapore's Climate Action Plan and our shores

The Climate Action Plan for Singapore was unveiled yesterday. Great to know that last year's mass fish death is highlighted among the key warning signs of climate impacts to Singapore!

My comments on biodiversity and marine aspects are below. What do you think of the Plan? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

25 May (Wed): Talk on "Singapore's Mass Fish Deaths" by Ria Tan

Thanks to Olivia Choong of Green Drinks for arranging for me to speak for the first time in public about my encounters with mass fish deaths in Singapore.

Mass fish death at Lim Chu Kang, Mar 2015

I hope to share my 7-year journey trying to understand the issues. My first encounter with mass fish deaths in Singapore was in 2009.

Dead farmed groupers on Pasir Ris beach, Dec 2009.
Many wild fishes also died.

In the last 7 years, I've done countless surveys and documentation of repeated mass fish death occurrences. I've also learned more about the issues from academics, agencies, volunteers. And yet, many questions remain.

I hope to hear from the audience. If you have ideas and insights on how we can stop mass fish deaths in the Johor Strait, please come for the discussion. I'm looking forward to it!

Marine deaths in the Johor Straits (Mar - May 2016)

A dugong was found dead in West Johor Strait on 5 May. In Singapore, dead fishes and poor water quality have been observed sporadically in March-May 2016.

Photo from AsiaOne attributed to The Star.

Here's a compilation of some of these issues.

Any dead fishes at Western Johor Strait? (16 Mar 2016)

As we approach conditions ideal for a plankton bloom, I checked out Lim Chu Kang and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the Western Johor Strait for signs of mass fish death.

Dead Fish Alert! Please help me monitor dead fishes washing up on the Johor Straits. Please let me know if you see large numbers (more than 10) especially of large dead fishes (more than 20cm long) washing up on the northern shores such as Pulau Ubin, Lim Chu Kang, Sungei Buloh, Kranji, Woodlands Waterfront, Sembawang, Punggol, Lorong Halus, Pasir Ris, Changi.

Black water at Punggol Jetty

The water around Punggol Jetty is black! Checks suggest the water at Pasir Ris and Pulau Ubin still seem alright.

While I didn't come across many dead fishes, there were signs of many issues affecting water quality. From trash to coastal works. Please help me monitor the situation and let me know if you see any dead fishes.

Dead Fish Alert!

Please help me monitor dead fishes washing up on the Johor Straits. Please let me know if you see large numbers (more than 20) especially of large dead fishes (more than 20cm long) washing up on the northern shores such as Pulau Ubin, Lim Chu Kang, Sungei Buloh, Kranji, Sembawang, Punggol, Pasir Ris, Changi.

Thank you!

A few dead fishes at East Johor Straits

Thanks to an alert, I spotted a few dead farmed fishes off Changi Sailing Club Saturday (5 Dec). Thanks to more alerts, I also checked Pasir Ris on Sunday (6 Dec). On Monday morning (7 Dec) a regular beach walker spotted a few dead wild fishes.

Dead fishes are a symptom of poor water quality. And there were signs of many issues affecting water quality. From trash to freshwater inflows and coastal works. Please help me monitor the situation and let me know if you see any dead fishes.

Checking out the plankton bloom at Pasir Ris

A plankton bloom has been going on at East Johor Strait for at least a week. You can tell by the tea-coloured water. I heard some farm fishes (fingerlings) were already dying last week.

Yesterday, we saw tea-coloured water on the way to Ubin. And dredging at Changi Creek is still ongoing. Today I had a quick look at Pasir Ris.

Dead sea turtle found at Tuas

Thanks to Lee Zhang Er who shared that "A huge turtle was spotted today along the coast near Tuas checkpoint. No other dead fishes were spotted along side it." at about 12.30pm today (17 Mar).

This blog post will be updated with any information that becomes available.

Update on mass fish deaths: West Johor Strait

I've been checking our northwest hores every day from the last 5 days (since 11 Mar). I continue to see small numbers of large dead fishes: mostly market-sized farmed mullet, and some tamban and tilapia.

Is the risk of plankton bloom in the West Johor Strait over?

Update on mass fish deaths: East Johor Strait

Sightings shared suggest few dead fishes at our northeast coasts. And there are signs that some marine life recovered from the mass fish deaths two weeks ago. But also some signs that fishes have yet to completely recover.

I was so glad to see half beaks and archerfishes at Changi Jetty yesterday!

But does this mean the risk of plankton bloom in East Johor Strait is over?

Seawater quality and desalination plants in Singapore

The quality of seawater can affect our drinking water. Not just plankton blooms that cause mass fish deaths.

Tuas Spring Desalination Plant facing the sea.
Photo from the PUB Annual Report 2013

Yesterday, there was an MPA Notice that silt curtains will be installed at the Tuas Spring Desalination Plant and sea water intake nearby. Why would a silt curtain be needed now?

Update on dead fish at Lim Chu Kang: out of sight but not out of smell

This morning, the area near the Lim Chu Kang Jetty was completely clear of trash and dead fish!

But the overpowering stench of dead rotting fish could be detected from the bus stop 100m away. I couldn't see any freshly dead fishes on the shore or floating in with the tide. Where is the smell coming from?

Update on mass fish death at Lim Chu Kang

Dead fishes are being cleaned up at Lim Chu Kang Jetty this morning.

I didn't see many freshly dead fishes at Lim Chu Kang or at Sungei Buloh. Are the mass fish deaths in the northwest coming to an end? I hope so, but alas, recent rains and upcoming neap tides suggest the danger is not yet over.