14/04/2015: Singapore mass fish deaths: Premature to decide if fish farmers need to relocate, says Maliki

With the authorities still studying the causes behind the plankton blooms that have led to the recent fish deaths, Minister of State (National Development) Maliki Osman said yesterday (April 13) it is premature to determine if there is a need for fish farmers to relocate or if plankton blooms will hinder production targets, Today Online reports.

   

Responding to a question tabled by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Yee Jenn Jong today, Dr Maliki said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is studying the causes of plankton blooms in the Johor Straits more comprehensively, to see if they are “simply ad-hoc events or regular occurrences”.

He told Parliament: “It is premature to determine whether there is a need for fish farmers to relocate away from the Johor Straits, and whether plankton blooms will significantly hinder us from reaching our 15 per cent local fish production target.”

Last month, up to 600 tonnes of fish from 55 farms here were lost because of an algal bloom. Last year, a plankton bloom cost 53 farms about 500 tonnes of fish.

   
Read more HERE.

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