AVA to ‘mitigate’ farmers’ targets in light of fish deaths

Singapore — It has been a tale of woe for 39 fish farms along the Johor Straits, but Minister of State for National Development Maliki Osman said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) stands ready to help farmers affected by one of the biggest mass fish deaths in recent years, as well as to prevent future incidents.

Farmers had in the wake of last weekend’s incident raised concerns over whether they could meet the minimum production target of 17 tonnes of fish per half-hectare space, which is part of AVA’s licensing conditions for coastal fish farms.

Speaking to reporters yesterday after visiting two farms off Changi, Dr Maliki said this year’s assessment may be mitigated. “If this year’s assessment ... is affected by such a situation, then it is only fair we will tell the farmers, ‘It’s okay, we will mitigate, we will look at how much losses you have incurred ... your productivity, the performance we measured in line with the losses you suffered’,” he added.

In all, about 160 tonnes of fish were reported to have died. Two of the farmers whom Dr Maliki visited reported suffering massive losses. Mr Teh Aik Hua of Kelong FC 117 estimated that his total losses amounted to more than S$1 million. “60 tonnes of my 70 tonnes of fish have died,” he said. Mr Teh said he hopes the AVA will be able to help his farm back on to its feet, by offering subsidies for business expenses.

Dr Maliki noted that the dead fish included species such as groupers, threadfin and golden trevally, which are the most susceptible to low levels of dissolved oxygen in the waters or a plankton bloom or both, as well as the hot weather. While this “is a very adverse situation”, the incident could help to improve farming methods and technology to prevent future recurrence, he added.

Dr Maliki also assured Singaporeans that fish on sale at markets here is safe for consumption as all the dead fish have been disposed appropriately. The AVA had collected samples from the affected farms for laboratory analysis, but no marine biotoxins were detected.

The impact to food supply will be minimal, the AVA added. In 2012, local farms produced about 5,100 tonnes of fish consumed here, but Singapore imported about 104,000 tonnes of fish from 75 sources.