An oil spill contamination would be a double whammy for farmers, many of whom are still reeling from a plankton bloom that hit them in December, which sucked up the oxygen and led to a combined loss of about 400,000 fish. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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.'
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