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Singapore

Perimeters lined with tarps, water quality checks: Singapore fish farms take precautions against oil spill

Blue tarps line the perimeter of a two-hectare floating fish farm off Changi, as a precaution against the oil spill that has struck parts of Singapore’s coastline.

Perimeters lined with tarps, water quality checks: Singapore fish farms take precautions against oil spill

A fish farm worker uses tarpaulin to prevent oil from entering the farm. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

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SINGAPORE: Blue tarps lined the perimeter of a two-hectare floating fish farm off Changi, days after an oil spill struck parts of Singapore’s coastline and caused the closure of several beaches.

When CNA visited the channel between Pulau Ubin and mainland Singapore on Wednesday (Jun 19) afternoon, farms there had also adopted measures such as checking the water’s quality and are considering contingencies such as freezing their stock for sale.

There was no sign of the oil spill spreading to the area, which is home to many of Singapore's off-shore fish farms, typically featuring wooden boards and platforms and open-net cage systems.

The spill occurred on Jun 14 after Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima hit a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal, causing oil from the latter’s damaged cargo tank to leak into the water.

Mr Soe Pyae Kyaw, manager of The Fish Farmer located at the mouth of the channel, said the blue tarps were supplied by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) the day before.

Fish farms off the coast of Singapore have been unaffected by the recent oil spill so far. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

PRECAUTIONS PROVIDED BY AUTHORITIES

On the farm’s premises, workers were laying tarps by the edge of the water. Mr Soe said these were SFA officers who were helping farms with the task which required additional manpower.

The tarps were tied to the sides of the farm’s infrastructure and rolled up.

“This is just a business contingency plan. It’s just in case only. We never get the oil. But if got oil, then we will drop it all down (to cover the sides),” Mr Soe told CNA.

He said they had used about six of the huge rolls of tarps, each 50m in length, and estimated that they would require another two rolls before they could finish lining the entire perimeter. 

Mr Soe Pyae Kyaw (right) and another farm worker with a roll of the blue tarp provided by SFA. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

SFA officers are also conducting daily checks on the quality of the fish in the vicinity, according to workers in the farms.

“They come to check the fish twice a day, once in the morning and again in afternoon,” said farmer Aung Kyaw from farm FC17.E.

He added that the officers spend about 10 minutes each time and are very thorough, even checking the mussels growing on the sides of the floating farm.

Mr Aung, who lives on the farm, said he has not seen any oil in the area and is not worried as the incident that happened is “very far”, but will still continue to keep an eye out.

Mussels growing on the sides of a floating farm. SFA officers have been regularly checking these mussels. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

CONTINGENCIES AMID CONCERN

Changi Fresh fish farm’s manager Darren Ho told CNA that they were “naturally concerned” when news of the oil spill broke.

After all, the one-hectare farm had just started operations last month, and they had hired new workers and also brought in fish, he said.

He said SFA contacted him on Tuesday about collecting samples from his fish crop, but he declined as his fish are still too small in size.

He was also told by the agency that such efforts were being focused on the cluster of farms situated at the mouth of the channel.

While the oil spill has not struck the area, nothing is being taken for granted and business contingencies are in place, explained Mr Ho.

“In the worst-case scenario, we will take (out the fish) and freeze before selling,” he said.

The area off Changi coast is home to many of Singapore's off-shore fish farms. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

He added that he believed the authorities would have an eye on the area, given its proximity to the biodiversity-rich Pulau Ubin.

Changi Fresh’s consultant Ong Jong Yang, who has been in the sector for about 20 years, said the area is fortunate that the current is unlikely to carry the oil spill in their direction.

He added that farms in the area have to be realistic about the measures they adopt, as some approaches may not be cost-efficient.

On Sunday, SFA said that there was a low risk of the oil spill spreading to local fish farms in the Johor Strait.

It also said that none of Singapore's fish farms have to date been affected by the oil spill, and that the agency is in close contact with them and will continue to monitor the situation.

Source: CNA/fk(cy)
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