Information and Breakdown of Local Sea-based Fish Farm Sector Workforce
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the workforce demographics of the sea-based fish farm sector and environmental risk mitigation strategies, as raised by Mr Cai Yinzhou. Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien noted that locals make up half of the 400-strong workforce, though data on the average age of farmers is unavailable. To build a talent pipeline, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) collaborates with educational institutions on aquaculture diplomas and works with workforce agencies for job placement. Support for farm productivity and climate resilience is provided through the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund, which assists farms in upgrading technology and capabilities. Additionally, the Aquatic Animal Health Services helps mitigate environmental risks by strengthening biosecurity and disease control measures within the sea-based farming sector.
Transcript
76 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) for the local sea-based fish farm sector, whether there is information on the (i) average age of local farmers and (ii) proportion of workforce who are Singaporeans; (b) if so, what are they; (c) what strategies are there to attract and train local farmers; and (d) what efforts are made to mitigate environmental risks that open cage farms face.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: In 2024, the sea-based fish farming sector has a workforce of approximately 400, of which about half are locals. We do not have data on the average age of local farmers within the sea-based farming sector.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) partners with the Institutes of Higher Learning to develop a range of pre-employment training and continuing education and training programmes, to build a local talent pipeline. For instance, in April 2024, SFA worked with Temasek Polytechnic to launch a new Specialist Diploma in Aquaculture Management and Technology. SFA also facilitates job matching to emplace local talents seeking a career in the agri-food sector, by working with WorkForce Singapore and the Employment and Employability Institute.
SFA has been supporting farms, including open-cage farms, to grow food in a more productive, resource-efficient and climate-resilient manner. This includes supporting farms in upgrading capabilities and adopting technology through the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund and strengthening farms' biosecurity to prevent and control diseases through the Aquatic Animal Health Services.