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NewsAsia 23 Mar 05 AVA, private firm to develop tracking system for farmed fish By Johnson Choo, Channel NewsAsia SINGAPORE : The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is working with private company GenoMar to develop a tracking system for farmed fish. The three-year pilot project, launched in October last year, hopes to trace the origin of fish sold based on genetic information collated from the brood-stock, or the parents. The project is being conducted at AVA's Sembawang Research Station. The laboratory technicians are trained in obtaining DNA samples from fish. The experiment was carried out on the Nile tilapia, the world's fastest growing species in the fish farming industry with global production exceeding two million tonnes last year. Dr Yeu Gen Hua, Manager of Strategic Research Programme at Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, said: "DNA analysis in humans and fish are actually quite similar, although their DNA sequence show some differences. "Actually there are two basic applications. The first is the genetic traceability to ensure security and safety. The second application is selective breeding." Dr Oystein Lie, CSO and Founder of GenoMar, said: "Singapore is highly tuned to being a science and technology base solution provider. "When GenoMar decided to really launch pioneering the next generation food safety tool, Singapore was an easy decision." The company is setting up four ponds in Singapore to breed quality fries and fingerlings for sale to fish farms for large-scale commercial farming. Since the parents are genetically tagged, these offsprings can be easily traced. Renee Chou, Deputy Director of Agri-technology at AVA, said: "Consumers will be able to know where the fish has been farmed if there is a food safety issue. So the potential is vast if this system can be applied for aquaculture." In the long run, Singapore hopes to reduce its dependence on imported fish, of which 95 percent are caught in the wild. And in about 10 years, it is hoped that fish originating from fish farms can make up 40 percent of Singapore's demand for fish. - CNA/de links Related articles on Wild shores on Singapore status, issues, discussions Singapore's biodiversity status, threats, commercial applications of biodiversity |
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