On a quiet morning off the northwestern coast of Pulau Ubin, Timothy Ng's fish farm gently bobs in the water, much as it has for years. But beneath this tranquil scene, Singapore's fish farming industry is experiencing a sea change that's forcing farmers like Ng to sink or swim in an increasingly challenging environment.
The Big Squeeze
In the past year alone, Singapore has lost a quarter of its sea-based fish farms, with numbers dropping from 98 to 74, according to recent Singapore Food Agency (SFA) figures. It's a dramatic shift for an industry that had maintained around 110 farms between 2019 and 2022 (The Straits Times, Oct 2024).
"Our experience is that we are already finding it difficult to sell our fish at a price above our cost," says Ng, who serves as president of the Fish Farmers Association of Singapore. He points to competition from Malaysian imports, which can sell for S$5.50 per kilogram while local farmers struggle to break even at S$7.50 (Channel NewsAsia, March 2022).
The challenges don't stop there. Starting in 2024, farms must pay for sea space usage – a new cost that will reach S$3,600 annually per half hectare by 2026. Add in climate change impacts and declining water quality in the Johor Strait, and it's clear why many small farmers are feeling the pressure (The Straits Times, Oct 2024).
A Tale of Two Approaches
While some traditional farms struggle, others are diving into technology. The Fish Farmer, operating four farms off Lim Chu Kang and Changi, looks traditional from above but runs like a modern operation underneath.
"We tried and failed so many times," recalls Malcolm Ong, CEO of The Fish Farmer. "The issue with technology is that what might work for three months may not work for three years, and out at sea, it's a tough environment" (Channel NewsAsia, March 2022).
Despite initial setbacks, Ong's persistence paid off. His farms now feature solar-powered monitoring systems that alert staff to low oxygen levels, potentially saving entire stocks of fish that might otherwise be lost. The company can produce 1,000 tonnes of fish annually – a testament to what technology can achieve.
Government Steps In
Recognizing the industry's importance to food security, the Singapore Food Agency isn't standing idle. Under The Singapore Aquaculture Plan, the agency has allocated over S$60 million for aquaculture research and innovation, and launched the AquaPolis programme to transform the research landscape (Our Food Future, 2024).
"We understand that some long-time farmers are keen to transform their farms and increase productivity, but are used to their own farming methods and may find it difficult to change," an SFA spokesperson explains (Channel NewsAsia, March 2022).
Finding Their Place
Despite the push toward high-tech farming, experts say traditional farms still have a crucial role to play. Professor William Chen, director of Nanyang Technological University's Food Science and Technology Programme, suggests smaller farms can carve out niches by providing fish species that larger operations won't handle.
"Consumers want choice, and they don't eat the same thing over and over again," Chen says. "It's not realistic to have all the fish being produced by big players because you need diversity and balance" (Channel NewsAsia, March 2022).
Innovation in Urban Settings
Singapore is also exploring new approaches to fish farming. In November 2023, the country launched its first urban fish farm in a container in Tampines, demonstrating how aquaculture can be integrated into urban spaces. The containerized system can operate within just 15 square meters, making it 25% more productive than traditional farming methods (The Straits Times, Nov 2023).
Looking Ahead
Some innovative solutions are emerging. Architectural firm Surbana Jurong, in partnership with Apollo Aquaculture Group, has developed a new vertical fish farm archetype that uses a closed-loop water reticulation system. This design won the WAFX Award for Water at the World Architecture Festival 2017, highlighting Singapore's potential for innovative aquaculture solutions (Surbana Jurong, Oct 2021).
Professor Lee Chee Wee, director of Temasek Polytechnic's Aquaculture Innovation Centre, sees these traditional farmers as valuable assets. "They know the water better than anyone else," he says. "By engaging them and making them part of a bigger team, you gain important and useful knowledge and skills, which can then be combined with technology" (Channel NewsAsia, March 2022).
The Bottom Line
As Singapore pushes toward its goal of producing 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030, the future of its fish farming industry hangs in the balance. Currently, local farms produce just 9% of Singapore's fish consumption – a figure that needs to grow significantly to meet the nation's food security goals (Channel NewsAsia, March 2022).
The coming years will likely see more changes as farms adapt to new realities. But whether through high-tech solutions or traditional methods, one thing is clear: Singapore's fish farmers are determined to keep their industry afloat, one way or another.
Sources:
The Straits Times, "A quarter of fish farms shut down in past year" (October 2024)
Channel NewsAsia, "IN FOCUS: As aquaculture booms, what role can small fish farms play in helping Singapore achieve its food security goals?" (March 2022)
The Straits Times, "Singapore's first urban fish farm in a container launched in Tampines" (November 2023)
Our Food Future, "The Singapore Aquaculture Plan" (2024)
Surbana Jurong, "Land-based fish farming goes vertical" (October 2021)
Comments