CYNTHIA CHOO Today Online 19 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE — Malaysia plans to restrict the export of five types of fish and shrimp twice next year — between Jan 1 and Feb 28, and again between May 1 and June 30 — the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) revealed on Wednesday (Dec 19).
It was previously reported on Monday (Dec 17) that Malaysia would be restricting the export of four types of fish and shrimp, and only in the first two months of the new year.
This had some fishmongers warning that prices of these seafood will likely jump by 30 to 40 per cent during the Chinese New Year period, TODAY reported on Tuesday.
However, the AVA said in response to TODAY’s queries that the export restrictions are unlikely to have a significant impact on Singapore’s overall seafood supply, as the affected species make up less than 10 per cent of Singapore’s total seafood supply.
Importers are also “well-prepared to tap on other readily available sources”, the AVA said.
The AVA added that such export restrictions are not new.
“In October 2018, Malaysia informed AVA that it would implement its seasonal export restrictions on five species of fish, and prawns/shrimp from 1 Jan to 28 Feb 2019 and 1 May to 30 Jun 2019,” it said.
“Such export restrictions have been in place over the past six years, due to lower supply during the monsoon season and higher demand during festive periods.”
AVA said that the affected species — similar to previous years — are:
• kembong (Indian mackerel)
• pelaling (short bodied mackerel)
• selar (horse mackerel)
• salayang/sardin (sardine)
• bawal putih (silver pomfret)
• udang (all species of shrimp and prawn)
Malaysia seafood export limits 'not likely to have significant impact' on Singapore supply: AVA
Channel NewsAsia 19 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s restrictions on fish and shrimp exports are not likely to have a significant impact on Singapore's overall seafood supply, said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) on Wednesday (Dec 19).
The statement came after Monday's announcement by the Malaysian government that it would prohibit the export of four species of wild-caught fish and shrimp to meet the shortage in the market during the festive and monsoon seasons.
"In October 2018, Malaysia informed AVA that it would implement its seasonal export restrictions on five species of fish, and prawns/shrimp from 1 Jan to 28 Feb 2019 and 1 May to 30 Jun 2019.
"Such export restrictions have been in place over the past six years, due to lower supply during the monsoon season and higher demand during festive periods," said AVA.
The authority added: "Based on past years’ experience, the export restrictions are not likely to have a significant impact on our overall seafood supply, as importers are well-prepared to tap on other readily available sources during the stated periods."
AVA also said that it would continue to monitor the situation closely.
AVA shared that the affected species are similar to that of previous years and that they include the kembung (Indian mackerel), pelaling (short-bodied mackerel), selar (horse mackerel), selayang/sardin (sardine), bawal (silver pomfret), and udang (all species of shrimp and prawn).
The list includes these species in their live, chilled and frozen forms.
Last year, Malaysia's exports of these six species of seafood were less than 10 per cent of Singapore's total seafood supply, said AVA.
Industry players told Channel NewsAsia on Tuesday that the prices of fish and shrimp will go up in the lead-up to Chinese New Year, but that the change will not be drastically different from in previous years.
Source: CNA/ad(hs)
Singapore well-prepared for Malaysian seafood export bans: AVA
Fabian Koh and Tiffany Fumiko Tay Straits Times 19 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE - The fishing industry and authorities have played down fears of seafood shortages, saying Singapore is "well-prepared" for Malaysia's temporary restrictions on exports of certain varieties of wild caught fish and shrimp.
The Malaysian government said on Monday (Dec 17) that it will prohibit the export of the seafood from Jan 1 to Feb 28 and May 1 to June 30 next year to meet supply shortages during the monsoon and festive seasons.
Similar bans have been in place over the last six years.
The affected species, which include live, chilled and frozen forms, are kembong (Indian mackerel), pelaling (short-bodied mackerel), selar (horse mackerel), salayang (sardines), bawal putih (silver pomfret) and all shrimp and prawn.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Wednesday that the restrictions are not likely to have a significant impact on Singapore's overall seafood supply, as importers are "well-prepared to tap other readily available sources during the stated periods", adding that Malaysia's exports of these six species of seafood made up less than 10 per cent of the Republic's total seafood supply last year.
Malaysia tends to cut back on its exports, as the monsoon season affects the volume of catches and Chinese New Year festive period raises domestic demand.
Mr Lee Boon Cheow, 79, president of the Singapore Fish Merchants' General Association, told The Straits Times that the twice-a-year export bans have had "no impact to our fishery industry".
Singapore gets its seafood from other countries including Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, he said.
Indonesia is the Republic's biggest seafood supplier, accounting for between 40 and 50 per cent. "There is no need to worry about not (having) enough fish," Mr Lee said.
Mr Tay Peng Kiat, 52, owner of Chip Hong (Pin Sin) Fishery, said: "Every year the same: Because of the Chinese New Year, there's a decrease in the supply. Malaysians also need to eat and celebrate."
However, he warned that fish prices will rise, with pomfret, for example, expected to double from the usual $20 per kg to $40 per kg. For prawn, it can increase from $15 per kg to $25 per kg.
"The decrease in fish supply is also due to the monsoon season. We usually get less fish at end-December and January. It has been like that all the while," added Mr Tay.
A spokesman for supermarket operator Sheng Siong, which has 54 supermarkets across Singapore, said the bans are not expected to have "a significant impact" on business.
Malaysia will prohibit the export of the "kembung" (mackerel), "selar" (trevally), "pelaling" (Indian mackerel) and "bawal" (pomfret) fish, as well as shrimp, from Jan 1 to Feb 28, 2019.
The food and beverage industry, meanwhile, has its own ways to get around the ban by using other types of seafood.
A spokesman for the Punggol Nasi Lemak outlet in Kovan said: "If there's no kuning, we could substitute it with a fish that is of the same size."
"Every year, there will be a slump," she said of the fish. "Due to the seasonal monsoon, with a change in weather, there could be fewer fishermen out at sea. Another reason could be the demand in other countries rising too, so a greater portion of the supply goes to the other countries."
"To cope with a shortage, we can also resort to using frozen fish. Or we can just limit the number of fish sold per day."
