Straits Times Forum 26 Jul 10;
THE article ('Eatery dishing up 220kg monster fish'; July 17) referred to a Queensland (or Giant) grouper that was caught off Sabah, and was later served up at a restaurant in Balestier Road. It failed to mention that this species is overfished and is quickly disappearing from the world's oceans.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Giant Grouper as a vulnerable species. In the wild, this fish can grow up to 2.7m in length and weigh up to 400kg. It is long-lived (up to several decades), often late to mature and reproduce, and its short spawning cycle takes place at specific locations each year - so it is easy to see why this species is so vulnerable to fishing.
The sad fact is that the Giant grouper has nearly been wiped out in areas of South-east Asia, where it has been heavily fished for years. Since it takes decades to grow, there is little chance of giant individuals reappearing in unprotected areas.
Like the Giant grouper, much of the fish consumed and imported into Singapore come from a unique marine ecosystem known as the Coral Triangle. Covering the waters of Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, this colourful coral nursery is home to at least 3,000 species of fish. If overfishing and destructive fishing continue, they may cause the collapse of one of the world's most remarkable marine ecosystems.
To ensure that the Coral Triangle - and the people that depend on its wealth of resources - has what it needs to be healthy, WWF works with the fishing industry in the region right along the supply chain, from fishermen to seafood traders, retailers and consumers, to encourage a more sustainable live fish trade.
To increase public awareness, WWF has produced the Singapore Seafood Guide. Consumers can make a difference by choosing seafood from sustainable sources, and play an active role in keeping the world's oceans healthy.
Abigail Virjee (Miss)
Manager, Coral Triangle Partnerships
WWF - World Wide Fund for Nature (Singapore)
