Fish For a Lifetime
Fish For a Lifetime
By supporting research institute Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL), Temasek Foundation Innovates hopes the lab’s solutions can improve livelihoods. In 2016, TLL contacted the fish farm where Mr Kang Boon Yong works.
Maybe we can really transform, change this community and bring hope, bring life and bring security, assurance.
Norman Phua
“It’s not an easy life,” the 70 - year - old silver-haired Mr Kang said with a wry smile.
Twenty years ago, Mr Kang decided to venture into fish farming. He forked out S$5,000 for a kelong in Batam. Having harboured dreams of riches, Mr Kang good - naturedly admits this did not turn out to be the case. Chuckling, he said, “I think I can make my money… but that was wrong.”
He now oversees his boss’ kelong around Lorong Halus jetty, in Singapore’s north - east. Starting at 6.30 am each day, he manages three workers on the idyllic fish farm, changing nets and feeding the fish thrice a day.
In 2009, calamity struck the farm, when an algae bloom led to 10,000 lobsters perishing. A similar 2014 incident killed 20,000 fish. Algae blooms lower the water’s oxygen levels, suffocating fish and crayfish.
But the hardened Mr Kang has come to terms with the cycles of his trade. He remarked matter - of - factly, “When you have been farming for so long, it’s just one of those things.”
Slightly betraying his carefree demeanour, Mr Kang’s eyes lit up when mentioning TLL. Through selective breeding, the lab rears faster - growing and more resilient sea bass. It donates these fish to farms, which also serve as testbeds for how fish grow in open farms.
Mr Kang (left) and TLL project manager Mr Phua making their way to the kelong.
Whereas Mr Kang rears his other fish for a year, TLL’s sea bass reach maturity for sale within seven to eight months. “The fast growing one, I can get it in seven months, about 800 grams!” Mr Kang said.
He also makes a tidy profit with TLL’s fish.”I make money; double!” he exclaimed.
By supporting programmes like TLL and Assisi Hospice’s efforts, Temasek hopes to make a difference to its communities; in some programmes, one individual at a time, through its six Foundations.
As Mr Norman Phua, TLL’s project manager, says, “Maybe we can really transform, change this community and bring hope, bring life and bring security, assurance.”