Launched in Tampines, Aqualita aims to bring fresh and sustainable seafood to the general public in Singapore.
Hold on to your fisherman hats, because Aqualita has just dived into uncharted waters with Singapore’s first urban fish farm – and get this, it’s snugly tucked inside a container. Yes, you heard it right, a container!
This one’s a game-changer. Imagine walking down Tampines and stumbling upon a container bursting with the promise of the sea – a sea of jade perch, to be exact.
So, what’s the buzz? Well, this isn’t just any fish farm; it’s a cornerstone of Singapore’s ambitious “30 by 30” mission, a target to produce 30 per cent of the nation’s food locally by 2030.
And guess who’s leading the charge? None other than our anchor minister for Tampines GRC, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli.
Step inside this unassuming container, parked next to Tampines Town Council, and you’ll find tanks filled with the rising stars of the culinary world – jade perch. Give them four to six months, and these water-dwellers will be ready to make a splash on your dinner plates.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The Tampines Round Market and Food Centre Merchants’ Association, along with local fishmongers, is teaming up to sell these aquatic wonders. Jade perch, when it hits the market, can fetch up to $38 per kilogram.
But this isn’t meant to be a profit parade. The fish will be sold to fishmongers at cost price, allowing the community to get a taste of sustainability, and the fishmongers get a piece of the action.
At the launch, Minister Masagos, along with the Tampines GRC team, didn’t just cut a ribbon; they opened the floodgates to community support. The Tampines community is rallying behind this container fish farm like it’s the catch of the day.
Now, let’s focus on the brains behind this aquatic adventure – Aqualita Ecotechnology and Tampines Town Council. These visionaries are not just dipping their toes; they’re diving deep, exploring the interest of folks in fish grown right in their backyard.
Aqualita, a spin-off from Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, engineered this containerised fish farm system.
And what’s on the menu for the future? Well, besides the jade perch, they’ve got their eyes on barramundi, red snapper, hybrid grouper, tilapia, and murray cod. It’s like assembling an all-star team of fish in a 15 sq m recirculating aquaculture system – roughly the size of a typical HDB bedroom, mind you.
Now, here’s the cool part. This container fish farm is not just efficient; it’s 25 per cent more productive than traditional methods.
Plus, it’s not just about the fish; it’s about community perks – job opportunities, educational activities, and even fish bento sets for those in need.
So, as the Tampines container farm makes waves, it’s not just about fish; it’s about a community fishing for change, one jade perch at a time.
Photo Credits: Tampines Town Council, Aqualita
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