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Did you know that Singapore really loves seafood? In 2020, the entire country consumed more than 134,000 tons of seafood, which was worth approximately S$760 million. But here's the issue: a whopping 75% of the seafood that people eat in Singapore is not necessarily good for the environment. It's either caught or farmed in ways that harm nature. This is why the Singaporean government came up with a plan called the Singapore Aquaculture Plan, and it's going to change the seafood industry in three important ways:
1. Investing in Research and Innovation
Research and innovation are both equally important to make our seafood industry better for the environment. The government is spending more than S$60 million on research and innovation for sustainable tropical aquaculture as part of the Singapore Food Story R&D Programme. They even introduced Aquapolis in November 2022, a program to support Singapore in becoming a leader in research and innovation for sustainable tropical aquaculture.
2. Creating More and Better Spaces for Aquaculture
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has been studying and looking for places at sea where they can conduct aquaculture practices. In the next few years, SFA is going to make new sea spaces available on leases that last for 30 years. This means that farmers will have a longer time to use these spaces for their farms and recover the money they invest in high-tech, efficient, and eco-friendly farming systems.
3. Helping the Industry Use Technology and Better Farming Practices
SFA has been working closely with farms that are in the sea to help them become better at what they do. They're showing these farms how to use good farming methods and manage things well. They're also allocating S$60 million into a fund called the Agri-food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund where they use science and technology to make farms more productive and better for the environment.
As we can see, the government of Singapore is taking big steps to make sure that the seafood they love so much doesn't harm the environment. They're investing in research, finding better places to farm seafood, and helping farms use technology and good practices. This way, they're working towards their goal of having 30% of the seafood they eat come from Singapore by the year 2030. That's a big deal, and it's all about making seafood better for both people and the planet.
Besides the government, there are groups that aren't part of the government (NGOs) that are also helping. One of the big players is WWF-Singapore. WWF-Singapore has a number of programs that are aimed at promoting sustainable seafood, including: making a free guide online that tells you which seafood is good for the environment, working with restaurants to help them buy and serve seafood that's good for the environment and teaming up with businesses, other groups, and the government to take care of the oceans in Southeast Asia.
If you're in Singapore, you can also help promote sustainable seafood in simple ways, such as:
When you eat out or buy seafood, choose the ones that don't hurt the environment. Look for brands that have certifications on them or brands that are open and transparent on how they source their seafood.
Educate yourself and find out which seafood is good for the environment and which isn't. Get to know the practices that are actually ethical and sustainable!
Support eco-friendly businesses and groups: Buy from brands and seafood suppliers that are trying to make seafood better for the planet. Choose a seafood distributor or seafood market with a good reputation and a trusted commitment to supporting sustainable seafood.
If you need a seafood supplier in Singapore that's all about sustainable seafood, check us out! The Fresh Label is a reliable seafood distributor, we are dedicated to offering the highest quality and freshest seafood. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us right now to check out our wide range and taste the difference of high-quality seafood.
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