By Jessica Lim
FISH farmers are frantically trying to save their stock of fish,
which could die if oil from a two-vessel collision yesterday
reaches their net cages.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), which
manages all the fish farms here, says there is a possibility that
the oil slick will reach north-east Singapore today.
All 51 farms off the Changi coast are covering their nets with
canvas skirting to prevent the oil from getting in. The skirting is
on loan to them from the AVA.
Some farmers are also taking extra precautions, such as lowering
their nets deeper into the ocean to minimise exposure to the oil on
the surface, or piping oxygen into net cages.
'There is a possibility of the spill reaching Pulau Tekong and
Pulau Ubin today, depending on the tides and wind,' said AVA's
director of agricultural industry Wong Hon Mun.
'What we are doing is taking precautions. Should the oil come,
at least the farms are protected.'
