Best of our wild blogs: 5-6 Oct 13

Dugong and more at Chek Jawa!
from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

The Least Remote Reef
from Pulau Hantu

More than 160 kg of rubbish found on Pulau Ubin shores [English news report]
from Peiyan.Photography

Stork-billed kingfisher casting a pellet as it was about to swallow a fish
from Bird Ecology Study Group

A Long Hike from Mandai Track 15 to Bukit Panjang
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature

Greening of Eco-Link @ BKE
from Butterflies of Singapore

100 Common Vascular Plants of the Nee Soon Swamp Forest
from Raffles Museum News

Here come the Garbage Men @ TNF 100 Singapore
from Running Sucks

Myanmar faces new conservation challenges as it opens up to the world
from Mongabay.com news by Claire Salisbury

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Ecological Armageddon in Thai forest

Grace Chua, Straits Times, 6 Oct 13;

Around the world, tropical forests are being chipped away and fragmented by agriculture, dams and other developments.

But how fast do species disappear from these forest fragments, and how soon must people act to stop extinction?

National University of Singapore (NUS) doctoral student Luke Gibson and his colleagues have been tracking islands in a drowned Thai forest, hoping to answer this question.

The Chiew Larn Reservoir in southern Thailand, midway between Ko Samui and Phuket, is a natural experiment. In 1987, it was formed by damming a river and flooding 165 sq km of forest, producing tiny islands, some smaller than a football field.

Twenty years ago, biologist David Woodruff of the University of California, San Diego, counted the small mammals such as moon rats (shrew-like jungle rats, native to and relatively common in South-east Asian tropical forests) on a dozen selected islands by trapping, tagging and releasing them.

Over the past few years, Mr Gibson and colleagues repeated the work.

They were startled by the sharp crash in the number of small mammal species on the islands.

And after just 25 years, the islands were dominated by Malayan field rats. These animals live in secondary forests and farmland, and were not on the islands when the dam was built, so they must have swum there.

"It was like ecological Armageddon," Mr Gibson said. "Nobody imagined we'd see such catastrophic local extinctions."

Their research was published late last month in the journal Science.

It may be too late to save the native denizens of these tiny Thai islands, but the study sounds a warning to many other countries where forests are increasingly being sacrificed for development, said researchers.

Dr Chong Kwek Yan, an NUS plant biologist, commented that Singapore's forests, too, are fragmented by roads, reservoirs, pipelines and other features, but that the forest patches here are much larger than the ones in the Thailand study.

Still, there are core areas of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve - between Upper Seletar and Upper Peirce, and Upper Peirce and MacRitchie reservoirs, for instance - that serve as "bastions of biodiversity" and where no additional fragmentation should occur.

The study findings, Mr Gibson said, emphasised the need to protect large, intact forest areas.

"But we should not write off small forest fragments, because that is all that remains in many tropical landscapes.

"I think this is a warning of what is going to be increasingly common in the future."

See also: Luke Gibson et al.: forest fragments suffer small mammal community loss in just 5-25 years; invasive rat monoculture dominates from NUS Biodiversity Crew


Near-Complete Extinction of Native Small Mammal Fauna 25 Years After Forest Fragmentation
Luke Gibson, Antony J. Lynam, Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Fangliang He, David P. Bickford, David S. Woodruff, Sara Bumrungsri, William F. Laurance
Science, 27 Sep 13;

Abstract: Tropical forests continue to be felled and fragmented around the world. A key question is how rapidly species disappear from forest fragments and how quickly humans must restore forest connectivity to minimize extinctions. We surveyed small mammals on forest islands in Chiew Larn Reservoir in Thailand 5 to 7 and 25 to 26 years after isolation and observed the near-total loss of native small mammals within 5 years from <10-hectare (ha) fragments and within 25 years from 10- to 56-ha fragments. Based on our results, we developed an island biogeographic model and estimated mean extinction half-life (50% of resident species disappearing) to be 13.9 years. These catastrophic extinctions were probably partly driven by an invasive rat species; such biotic invasions are becoming increasingly common in human-modified landscapes. Our results are thus particularly relevant to other fragmented forest landscapes and suggest that small fragments are potentially even more vulnerable to biodiversity loss than previously thought.

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Green waterfront for Tanjong Pagar

Sylvester Toh, Straits Times, 5 Oct 13;

Singapore is acclaimed around the world as a successful waterfront city and maritime nation (Dream Towns, Life!, Sept 28).

Yet, it does not have a world-renowned beach like Rio's Copacabana and Ipanema, Sydney's Bondi and those along the French Riviera to call its own. Instead, the ones at East Coast Park and Changi are poorly maintained, while those at Sentosa are blighted by a smorgasbord of attractions nearby.

The Lion City is also highly regarded for its urban planning capabilities.

Unfortunately, it has been outshone by the likes of Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and Songdo in South Korea as purveyors of futuristic eco-friendly townships.

Now that our Government has confirmed plans to consolidate all port operations along Tanjong Pagar and Pasir Panjang at Tuas, we have a fantastic opportunity to reclaim our place in the sun.

As far as I know, no major global city has implemented an exclusively car-free zone in its central business district.

Above all, no major city can boast a sexy smoke- and food-free beach and lagoon manned by professional lifeguards in its CBD area.

It is never too late to execute a vision that allows stressed out office workers to get a quick tan on a beach during lunch, as well as a place to hold beach parties in the heart of the city.

Tanjong Pagar can be a cul-de-sac for the use of renewable energy, with a centralised waste-to-energy management system.

For example, planners may wish to line its perimeter along Keppel Road with sustainable commercial buildings and mixed developments that have ample pick-up and drop-off points, as well as parking space, so that those who are used to getting around by car will not be deterred from visiting it.

The Tanjong Pagar project will also provide our planners an excellent platform to close the loop for the Circle Line, by establishing a few new MRT stations in the precinct and linking them to those at HarbourFront and Marina Bay in an imaginative way that could potentially turn a regular trip on the train into a fun experience.

For example, part of this conduit can be a track along a wide footbridge above water that pays homage to kelongs from days of yore.

One of the stations may also be linked to the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station when it is redeveloped, perhaps as a cultural foundation dedicated to the culinary arts, food heritage and technology.

Visitors may choose to either walk along the footpaths - at ground level, on elevated bridges and underground - ride a bicycle or hop on to electric trams, to get to key attractions, including the alluring beachfront.

The idea of building finger piers by the founder of Ministry of Design, Mr Colin Seah, would be most ideal for this section of the township. As the creative denizens of New York City have shown, finger piers and wharves can be used for a variety of events, from art exhibitions to fashion shows, and not just for berthing boats.

The Tanah Merah ferry terminal should be converted into a cruise hub that connects seamlessly to the expanded Changi Airport. Set aside the southern waterway for sea sports such as rowing, and hold annual international dragon-boat races there.

Above all, Tanjong Pagar should avoid being a location for mass entertainment such as mega theme parks. There are already Universal Studios and other attractions on Sentosa.

Beyond the green mixed developments and commercial buildings, a sizeable portion of Tanjong Pagar's land area should be devoted to waterfront residences, public squares for alfresco dining, beach and sports clubs, and perhaps a couple of aqua-based resorts and a family-oriented indoor beach resort catering to those who wish to avoid the sun.

A true waterfront city must first and foremost be about returning the sea and the land to the people, and not just for them to capture panoramic waterfront views on Instagram.

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More builders green up for extra space

Total 'bonus' area the size of Tampines Mall given to developers for green features
Daryl Chin, Straits Times, 6 Oct 13;

More developers are going green thanks to a scheme which gives them extra floor area if their buildings are built with environment-friendly features.

So far, builders have received extra space of more than 43,000 sq m - the size of Tampines Mall, allowing them to add extra residential or office units in their buildings.

These figures on the Green Mark Gross Floor Area Incentive Scheme were revealed by the Building Construction Authority (BCA) yesterday.

The scheme, which was put in place in 2009 as part of the Green Masterplan, gives private-sector companies as much as 2 per cent in extra gross floor area - capped at 5,000 sq m - if they achieve certain environmental standards.

These include the efficient use of energy and water, through, for instance, energy-saving air-conditioning systems, LED lighting and tap fittings.

From 20 applications in 2009, the number has since grown to 110 in total so far, including those from developments such as JCube and Up@Robertson Quay.

A City Developments (CDL) spokesman said the "welcome incentive" has been embraced by many in the industry.

"More developers have been encouraged... to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness for the overall good of the industry," she said.

But going green comes at a price.

To get the highest green rating, and be awarded the maximum extra space under the scheme, a commercial building might add up to 5 per cent to construction costs. It might take up to 61/2 years to recoup this extra expenditure.

Builders would also need to pay a levy, known as the development charge, on the extra floor area they are awarded through the scheme.

SLP International head of research Nicholas Mak added that due to several revisions to the green criteria, it was also getting harder for developers to get top marks.

The changes were part of the Government's drive to increase construction productivity while promoting sustainability.

"Builders have to balance going for green features like more prefab parts and solar panels, against their chances of getting more gross floor area. This will decide how bullish they are in their land bids, which will, in turn, also affect what costs are passed to the buyers," said Mr Mak.

EL Development managing director Lim Yew Soon noted that smaller developers need to be extra careful in pricing their products. "Customers might be willing to pay a premium for projects from the big boys but not for the smaller guys. In that case, it may not be justifiable to try for the extra floor area," he said.

Meanwhile, BCA also gave updates on the other initiatives undertaken in the 2009 masterplan, which is set to be revised later this year.

More than $90 million in cash incentives have been committed to existing building owners who retrofit their premises to meet specific green criteria. This has helped commercial buildings cut back energy expenses by 20 per cent a year on average.

There is also a target to build a workforce of 20,000 green specialists by 2020, to improve the design, construction and maintenance of green buildings.

BCA said that around 6,000 professionals have either been trained so far or are currently undergoing courses.

All these efforts to encourage sustainable buildings make Singapore one of the leading nations when it comes to going green, according to green consultancy ZEB Technology managing director Lim Jit Seng. "Our system relies on attractive incentives coupled with strict auditing procedures. Hopefully, this will be enough to achieve better sustainability."

darylc@sph.com.sg

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50 native trees planted to kick-start greening of Eco-Link@BKE

To kick-start the greening of Eco-Link@BKE, representatives from government agencies and civil organisations came together on Saturday to plant 50 native trees at the site.
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia, 5 Oct 13;


Minister of State for National Development Mr Desmond Lee (R) and NParks CEO Mr Poon Hong Yuen, planting a tree at the Eco-Link@BKE. (Photo: NParks)

SINGAPORE: The seeds have been sown for a unique ecological bridge, the Eco-Link@BKE, that will connect two nature reserves in Singapore.

Staff and representatives from government agencies and civil organisations on Saturday planted 50 native trees at the bridge, which is described as the first of its kind in Singapore.

Greening of the connector is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The Eco-Link@BKE runs over and across the Bukit Timah Expressway.

National Parks Board (NParks) said the bridge will allow wildlife to move between the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves.

NParks said insects, butterflies and birds will make use of the bridge, and over time, animals like the pangolin, flying squirrel, palm civet and porcupine are expected to make use of the extension as well.

The crossing of wildlife will also benefit native plant species.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said: “The BKE built in the 80s segmented two areas of wildlife and plant life, and it is hoped that with this eco-link bridge, we'll be able to see and record a growth in the various species that nature groups are concerned about.

“I think this represents at the symbolic level, a commitment by Singapore and Singaporeans to preserve what is precious about our biodiversity, because of itself and because of the importance of nature."

- CNA/ac/nd


Greening of first-of-its-kind eco-bridge starts
Animals such as the pangolin and porcupine are expected to use the bridge to move between two nature reserves
Today Online, 5 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE – To kick-start the greening of a first-of-its-kind eco-bridge, representatives from Government agencies and civil organisations came together this morning (Oct 5) to plant 50 native trees at the site.

Connecting two nature reserves over the Bukit Timah Expressway, the bridge, named Eco-Link@BKE, will allow wildlife to move between the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves. The S$16 million bridge is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said it expects insects, butterflies and birds to cross the bridge. As more wildlife gets used to Eco-Link@BKE, other animals like the pangolin, flying squirrel, palm civet and porcupine are expected to use the bridge as well.

Animal crossings are expected to benefit rare native plants, such as the Singapore Walking Stick Palm, which is pollinated and dispersed by animals.

NParks said that with the connector, an exchange of the palm’s genetic materials can be expected between the two nature reserves. That would reduce inbreeding and boost the chances of the plant’s survival.

Public access to Eco-Link@BKE will be restricted during the initial years to reduce human disturbance. However, NParks is working closely with nature groups to organise guided walks, where feasible, in the future.


Greening of wildlife bridge begins
Ian Poh, Straits Times, 6 Oct 13;

The "greening" phase of Eco-Link@BKE, a bridge built to allow wildlife, such as monkeys, to move between the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment area separated by the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE), has started.

About 80 people from nature groups, schools, non-government organisations and other agencies were on the 62m-long linkway yesterday to help plant trees.

They were also there to get a first look of the $16 million project developed by the National Parks Board (NParks) and Land Transport Authority. Construction on Eco-Link@BKE began in 2011. Native species of trees, shrubs and plants will gradually be introduced on and around the bridge to simulate a natural habitat, NParks said.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee, the guest of honour at the event, said the project "represents a commitment to preserving what is precious about our biodiversity". There was a lot of potential for future collaboration between government agencies, passionate volunteers and nature groups, he added.

The bridge is located about 600m north of Rifle Range Road, between the Pan-Island Expressway and Dairy Farm exits.

Wildlife is expected to be able to move between the two nature reserves by the end of this year, said NParks in a statement. Public access will be restricted during the initial years to reduce human disturbance.

Mr Tony O'Dempsey, a council member of the Nature Society (Singapore), said he was happy with the project coming together. "Nature groups have always been uncomfortable with the separation of the two reserves.

"The eco-bridge shows initiative on the part of the Government to promote biodiversity."


Greening of Eco-Link@BKE begins
Close partnership between government agencies and the community turns Eco-Link@BKE from vision to reality
NParks media release, 5 Oct 13;

Singapore, 5 October 2013– To kick-start the greening of Eco-Link@BKE, representatives from government agencies and non-governmental organisations came together this morning to plant 50native treesat the site. First of its kind in Singapore, the Eco-Link@BKE is an ecological bridge that connects two nature reserves over an expressway. Greening of Eco-Link@BKE is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

From the start of the project, nature groups, non-governmental organisations, tertiary institutions, schools, volunteers and government agencies have worked closely with the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to conduct feasibility studies and ecological monitoring surveys. The baseline data collected will be used as a comparison against the findings of future surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of Eco-Link@BKE.

“The tree-planting this morning represents the contributions of various stakeholders in making Eco-Link@BKE a reality. This project has brought together Singapore’s wildlife experts, nature enthusiasts, and government agencies in an unprecedented effort to connect two nature reserves. As we commemorate 50 Years of Greening Singapore in 2013, the development of Eco-Link@BKE shows us how Singapore’s City in a Garden vision can be achieved – through working in close partnership with the community. We want to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to all who have contributed to the project; we also look forward to the continued support and involvement of NGOs and volunteers for future surveys,” said NParks Chief Executive Officer, Mr Poon Hong Yuen.

Wildlife will be able to move between the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves by the end of the year. At the onset, NParks expects insects, butterflies and birds to cross the bridge. As more wildlife gets used to the Eco-Link@BKE, other animals like the pangolin, flying squirrel, palm civet and porcupine are expected to use the bridge as well.

Animal crossings will also benefit rare native plants. For example, the Singapore Walking Stick Palm (Rhapaloblaste singaporensis) is pollinated and dispersed by animals. With the Eco-Link@BKE, an exchange of the palm’s genetic materials can be expected between the two nature reserves. This will reduce the occurrence of inbreeding, and increase its chances of survival.

Public access to the Eco-Link@BKE will be restricted during the initial years to reduce human disturbance. NParks is working closely with nature groups to organise guided walks where feasible in the future.

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More than 160 kg of rubbish found on Pulau Ubin shores

A recent clean-up found more than 160 kilogrammes of rubbish on the northern shores of Pulau Ubin.
Evelyn Lam, Channel NewsAsia, 4 Oct 13;



SINGAPORE: A recent clean-up of the beaches at Pulau Ubin led by Outward Bound Singapore saw more than 160 kilogrammes of waste being collected.

Volunteers found fishing nets and abandoned barrels among the usual plastic bags and bottles in the rubbish deposited at Pulau Ubin's northern shores.

Chua Li San, head of character and curriculum development at Outward Bound Singapore, said: "We don't know what is actually being contained in those barrels. Is it petroleum or is it some other petrochemical waste?

"The fishing nets... we don't know if any fishes or birds will be trapped by the nets.

"Is cleaning the beach the only solution? We need to do something more extensively... to educate people."

Fishermen said they usually bring their rubbish to the collection point at the nearby Marina Country Club and added that some of the waste could have floated over from kelongs at the opposite shores of neighbouring countries.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority said it is an offence for fish farmers to dispose waste into sea waters.

- CNA/ec

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Myanmar: Sharing the gift of water

Charlene Poon, Today Online, 5 Oct 13;

Mr Soe Tint, a 59-year-old general worker in Ma Kjee Kan village, used to have to walk 10 minutes to collect water from a shallow 12m well.

He did this with two recycled plastic bottles attached to a pole — and as these could not hold more than 4 litres of water, he had to make several trips daily for his family’s drinking, washing and bathing needs.

Mr Soe Tint is one of nearly 40 million people in Myanmar who live in the countryside, where limited access to water sources, clean water and basic health facilities poses implications for health and livelihoods.

Villagers typically rely on ponds or shallow wells where water collects during the monsoon season. Over the hot dry months from March to May, these water sources get depleted and become heavy with sediment.

“My children fall sick with diarrhoea if they drink the water without boiling it,” he says. “It costs about 10,000 kyats (S$13) per trip to the Kaw Hmu Hospital. Buying firewood costs us 100 to 500 kyats.”

For Mr Soe Tint’s family, which has a combined daily income of 2,000 kyats, the costs add up.

When Cyclone Nargis hit in 2008, villages in the Irrawaddy Delta suffered — water, sanitation, electricity and communication were cut off. According to a 2010 survey by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), less than 30 per cent of the population in the delta region had access to safe drinking water.

Mr Soe Tint’s situation changed in April this year, when a 122m-deep community tube well was installed in Ma Kjee Kan village with the help of volunteers from Singapore.

Now, the villagers need only turn on a tap for clean drinking water that does not need to be boiled — it comes from deep groundwater reserves which are purer than surface water. The well operates with an electric pump, which the villagers share the cost and maintenance of.

Thirty-six such wells are being installed over three years in the townships of Kaw Hmu and Kungyangon under the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) Water for Life (Yangon) programme in partnership with local non-government organisation Mingalar Myanmar and sponsored by Keppel Land and the Singapore Red Cross.

In the village of Zee Kone, their own new tube well has enabled provisions seller Ma Maw, 39, to plant and sell betel leaf all year round, instead of for only a few months. It also helps in watering the livestock.

“My income and livelihood have improved,” she says. “We are so thankful for the well.”

Water for Life (Yangon) will also conduct community education programmes on basic hygiene and nutrition for villagers, and refurbish five rural health centres and two district hospitals. Medical staff will be trained by specialist volunteers recruited via the SIF.

The foundation’s Chairman Euleen Goh describes it as “stretching out many hands of friendship ... between the people of Myanmar and Singapore, and between the villagers and volunteers”. Five Keppel Land employees gave their time for the April launch of the project and regular volunteering opportunities are now offered to the company’s staff and the Keppel Group.

Indeed, Keppel is not the only corporation that has taken to offering employees volunteering opportunities overseas as a way of giving back to the community.

Deutsche Bank Asia — which has sponsored the SIF’s Water for Life project in Siem Reap, Cambodia, since 2010 — recently called for applications from staff for a volunteer trip there, as part of the Deutsche Bank Asia Foundation’s 10th anniversary. It received 200 applications, of which 22 made the cut.

Over the two-day trip, 20 bio-sand filters were built and installed in villagers’ homes, giving more than 200 Cambodian villagers access to clean drinking water — a matter of life and death in a country where infant mortality rates are among the highest in Asia, largely due to water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, Hepatitis A and typhoid.

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Malaysia: Marine turtles get a lifeline

New Straits Times, 5 Oct 13;

KOTA KINABALU: An agreement signed here yesterday has extended a lifeline towards the preservation of four marine turtle species.

Under it, three parties will be in charge of hatcheries and turtles' relocation and incubation.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia initiated the agreement between the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), The Reef Dive Resort and Tours and Sipadan Pom-Pom Island Resort and Tours.

Its signing took place yesterday at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, in conjunction with World Animal Day and SWD's 50th anniversary.

A total of 785 Green and 171 Hawksbill turtle nests had been recorded in the northeast island of Semporna between June 2006 and December 2012.

The head of marine for WWF Malaysia, Carol Phua, said: "This joint effort means long-term protection of sea turtles around Semporna. It is an example how sustainable tourism can contribute to their preservation. Hopefully, this agreement will increase their hatching rate."


Agreement Strengthens Turtle Conservation Work in Semporna
WWF Malaysia; 4 Oct 13;

4 October 2013, Kota Kinabalu: Turtle conservation in Sabah reached a milestone today with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), The Reef Dive Resort and Tours, and Sipadan Pom-Pom Island Resort and Tours.

The agreement is a significant step towards the protection of the four marine turtle species in Malaysia, especially the endangered Green turtle and critically-endangered Hawksbill turtle which are predominantly found in the northeast islands of Semporna, specifically at Mataking and Pom-Pom Islands.

Under the agreement, the three organizations are responsible to ensure that the hatcheries are regulated and well-operated, and that the nests will be relocated to the hatchery should there be threats such as poaching, natural predators and erosion of nesting. Data will also be compiled and shared on quarterly basis for further improvements of turtle population management in the area.

The agreement also looks into the implementation of ‘in situ’, which means natural incubation of nests to increase hatching rates and balance sex ratio of population.

The signing, which culminated years of work that was initiated by WWF-Malaysia, was held at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, in conjunction with World Animal Day and SWD’s 50th anniversary celebration. The national conservation organization played a key role in facilitating the need for collaboration among parties for the protection of turtles in the area.

Between June 2006 and December 2012, a total of 785 Green and 171 Hawksbill turtle nests were documented in the northeast islands of Semporna based on monitoring surveys and interviews with local communities conducted by WWF-Malaysia, Sabah Wildlife Department and resort operators. The activities also provided a baseline for further researches.

“Today is a momentous day. Marine turtles have long been the flagship species for marine conservation in Malaysia, and today is the dawn of a new era of private-public partnership in Malaysian marine conservation. This joint effort means long-term protection of suitable nesting and foraging grounds for sea turtles around Semporna, and a great example of how sustainable tourism can contribute to conservation,” said WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Marine, Carol Phua.

In September 2012, as a mid-term measure, a turtle management body was formed, comprising members from all the three organizations. The body, led by SWD, acts as a platform for stakeholders to collaboratively manage sea turtles in Semporna.

Notes:
SWD is the government agency responsible for sea turtles in Sabah under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997; The Reef Dive Resort and Tours manages Mataking Island, while Sipadan Pom-Pom Island Resort and Tours manages Pom-Pom Island of Semporna Priority Conservation Area (PCA).

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Malaysia: Fish for life

The Star, 6 Oct 13;

WHEN local marine fish farming company Aquagrow Corporation Sdn Bhd was setting up in 2008, it received only one Malaysian applicant to join the company.

In Malaysia, fish farming is still perceived as a small-scale rural activity, says its CEO Mohd Razali Mohamed.

“What many don’t realise is that aquaculture (fish farming) is now a RM380bil global industry with some 160 million tonnes of fish being traded all over the world each year. Fish production is already the biggest food production sector in the world - bigger even than chicken, beef, dairy or pork. And the pay is fantastic and is on par with other industries,” he says.

Crucially, aquaculture is becoming increasingly high tech, requiring extensive research and development to spur its growth, and experts in related specialisations from marine biologists to feed specialists, geneticists and food technologists.

Seeing the potential in the field, Mohd Razali decided to turn his “side project” - a fish farm in Adelaide, Australia - into a fulltime career.

Mohd Razali decided to walk away from his high tech career in Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing to pursue aquaculture fulltime.

“I entered the aquaculture industry at 36 years old. Initially, it was just for diversification of business portfolio. After five years, I gave up everything else and concentrated on fish farming, having seen how big the industry is.”

Along with his business partners, Mohd Razali decided to test the waters here.

“We had a bit of a culture shock! Compared to when we were in Australia, we got so much support from the government here and there were even funds available through various grants.”

Through BiotechCorp, Aquagrow received the BioNexus Status, which gave them various incentives and guarantees to develop their aquaculture enterprise.

“With BioNexus, we got help at all stages of our development, even with petty issues,” says Mohd Razali, describing BiotechCorp as a “nurturing” agency.

After studying the market, they decided to focus on Tiger Grouper, Giant Grouper, Barramundi and Red Snapper.

They started with a farm in Langkawi and another in Tok Bali, Kelantan. To reap optimum “catch”, they invested in research and development (R&D) at their facilities and hatcheries, says Mohd Razali.

“The biggest problem in fish farming is the high mortality (about 50% for Barramundi and Snapper, and 70% for Grouper) due to viruses, diseases, parasites and bacteria. We apply aquaculture biotechnology in fish farming at all three stages of our operations - from hatchery, nursery to grow-out - to reduce the mortality and to increase profitability.”

Through aquaculture technology, they are working to develop a long term Broodstock Enhancement Programme using a DNA-marker assisted family selection method to reverse the declining quality of their broodstock and a commercial scale Copepod production for first feeding in all their hatcheries.

Another initiative is to develop high-density poly ethylene (HDPE) materials to make sea cages to allow them to keep their brood in deeper and higher quality waters.

According to Mohd Razali, the more common wooden cages restrict the fish farmers only to shallow, near shore and sheltered areas which have lower quality sea water. “HDPE cages are also designed to withstand monsoons,” he adds.

Previously, they would have to import HDPE cages which are usually too expensive. “We are designing our own cages with assistance from a Danish aquaculture engineering company. We ordered the fabrication equipment from Europe and will start to fabricate the HDPE cages in Tok Bali soon, at a lower cost than the fully imported models.”

It helps that they are given exemption for import duty as a BioNexus company, says Mohd Razali.

Having a BioNexus status has also made it easier for them to hire the foreign specialists they need.

“Being in the BioNexus programme gives us the freedom to hire any foreign expert we need, which in our case is in almost all departments as we are lacking talents in this field in Malaysia at the moment,” he says.

All of Aquagrow’s farm managers now are Europeans as there are not many Malaysians who have the experience in large scale commercial fish farming, says Mohd Razali.

“But we make sure that we also hire young Malaysian graduates to become their assistants, with the view to have mostly Malaysian managers in the near future.”

Aquagrow also tries to tap into the local community for manpower.

“Both farms are located in very rural areas and we usually give employment preference to locals. We want the farms to have direct positive impacts on the local economies and employment of Langkawi and Tok Bali.” Their first harvest is expected this December.

While all their focus has been on R&D, Mohd Razali is confident of their sales and marketing with their Australian connections.

“Our Barramundi and Snapper will be airflown to Sydney and Melbourne on a weekly basis. When the production increases, we will export to Switzerland and France.

“Our live grouper will be exported to Hong Kong and China. There are many ‘well boats’ from Hong Kong that ply the South China Seas and Malacca Straits to purchase live Grouper directly from farms, to bring back to Hong Kong and China.”

He says it was the global aspect of aquaculture that attracted him to the field.

“And virtually there is no limit to the size of the fish. The bigger the fish, the more profit you make.”

Ultimately, it is an area with a demand. “Everyone needs fish!” quips Mohd Razali.

Aquaculture is also Malaysia’s answer to the sustainability of its fishes.

According to experts, Malaysia has lost 92% of its fishery resources due to overfishing.

Mohd Razali points out this is because Malaysians are one of the world’s largest consumers of seafood at 52kg per capita, which is more than double that of US and Europe’s 20kg.

“That means that with a population of more than 27 million, we consume more than 1.4 million tonnes of fish per year while we produce 1.5 million tonnes,” he says.

In 10 years, we will need another 260,000 tonnes to feed ourselves and in 2048, the predicted doomsday for global fisheries, we will need to double our current production.

“Our wild catch has already reached the maximum yield, so unless we act now, we will run out of fish sooner. Where is the fish going to come from in the future? The answer is aquaculture, of course!”

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Malaysia: Sabah keen to tap agricultural waste for energy

The Star, 6 Oct 13;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is keen to develop a biogas sector to tap into fuel that can be harvested from millions of tonnes of waste generated yearly by the agriculture industry.

A move to diversify the state’s energy sources is always a good idea, said state tourism, culture and environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

“We will look into this further with the Natural Resources and Envi­ronment Ministry,” he said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sabah Environmental Depart­ment and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry as well as 22 other agencies and companies.

Masidi urged all those involved in the signing of the MoU to be committed to promoting green living.

He added that an annual report should be done to analyse what environmental activities had been carried out and to monitor progress.

Among those present at the event was Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dr James Dawos Mamit who said that biogas could be an effective fuel.

Dr James said this method could help rural folk because they have larger land areas as well as resources such as animal and human waste.

He also said this method could be implemented in Sabah because of the huge number of oil palm estates here.


SESB may look at biogas
Jenne Lajiun, Borneo Post, 5 Oct 13;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) may consider biogas as an alternative to the coal-fired power plant in the generation of electricity for Sabah.

There is a big opportunity for the production of biogas in Sabah due to the presence of many oil palm mills and their effluents.

Deputy Natural Resource Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said the sludge produced by oil palm mills could produce biogas, which in turn could be used to generate fuel for the production of electricity as well as for cooking and so on.

“The operators refuse to treat the sludge so anyone who wants to generate biogas can collect it. I hope they don’t sell it because if they don’t treat it, they will be penalised by the DOE (Department of Environment),” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between 28 organisations to make way for a collaboration in implementing environment awareness programmes.

James added that the oil palm mills would realise the value of the sludge when people started using them to generate biogas and fuel.

“It is all about balancing an act on how to utilise our waste,” he said.

He also said he was willing to help SESB by giving it advice and even designing a bio-digester for them.

Earlier in his speech, James also provided a glimpse on the benefits of biogas.

He explained that biogas could be produced by waste generated by people, and that included human excrement.

“Two schools with 150 students have been adopted, and the 75 cubic meters of biogas produced has the potential of producing more heat. It is also free so it is better than LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas)…we don’t need LPG,” he said.

He also said the bio-digestor he designed had been adopted by companies in Japan, Myanmar and in Korea.

Meanwhile, a total of 22 agencies in Sabah and eight from the Federal Territory of Labuan yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to embark on a smart partnership to raise awareness of conserving the environment in Sabah.

The MoU shall also act as a medium for the agencies to implement, encourage and raise the membership in its Friends of the Environment programme.

James said if the agencies were successful in protecting and conserving the environment, they would encourage others to follow suit.

Also present to grace the event was Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

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Malaysia: Sarawak Tourism Board to incorporate tree planting in all events

Anthony Joseph, Borneo Post, 5 Oct 13;

MIRI: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will incorporate tree planting in all of its events as part of the board’s philosophy and environment conservation efforts.

Its chief executive officer Dato’ Rashid Khan and mayor Lawrence Lai yesterday led performers, sponsors and committee members of Asia Music Festival at a tree planting ceremony held at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club here.

Also joining in the ceremony, which incorporated Miri City Council (MCC) programme – Miri Go Green – were councillors as well as students and teachers from Tenby International School.

Rashid believed that every human activity including the festival has some impact on Mother Earth directly or indirectly.

“Environment particularly global warming is now becoming a major concern and issue around the world including we here in Malaysia.

“We as part of global citizens, we must do our part to minimise impact to environment contributed by human activities,” said Rashid.

Saying that tree planting is just a small part of the board’s contribution and to create awareness of the importance to conserve Mother Nature, Rashid said: “The greening project we are undertaking with Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club represents the opportunity for all of us to come together as one and to cultivate especially among younger generation that Borneo’s greenery is one of precious national treasures and the tree-planting we are carrying out goes some way to balancing carbon footprint.”

He further said that Miri has also been very supportive of environmental practises with its emphasis on environmental practices such as ‘No Plastic Bag’ which has the support of major shopping outlets and has proven to be very successful.

Rashid hoped that the programme will help develop a group of young people with ambition, passion and compassion for the environment that will define future Malaysia.

“Sarawak and its people are proud to have the world’s oldest tropical rainforests and they along with our sustainable forest management are valuable tourism assets and a legacy which we are custodians of,” he added.

The inaugural Asia Music Festival kicked off yesterday in a wonderful setting at Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club, which is among the top ten golf courses in the country.

“The venue no doubt is befitting, with its splash of greenery and the forest looming on the horizon. This is really the place where the stress of life will be overtaken by the sound of nature and the smell of fresh air from the countryside,” he added.
The festival brought in electrifying eclectic mix of live music on stage comprising bands from the Asian region.

“With its objective of attracting Asian expatriate community living in Brunei, Bruneian themselves, Sabah and peninsular as well as those in Indonesia, Singapore and the region, the atmosphere is that of a carnival as apart from the night shows, there will also be fringe events starting in the afternoon,” he added.

Although the performance commenced at 4pm, live music and singing fans and enthusiasts were seen at the venue at 2pm for the big bikers, tattoo and handicraft exhibition.

Local Miri singing talents Starlets Band and The Mountain Wind Band and Iban band Hevance and Iban singing session Melissa Francis were given the honour to share the stage with Bob Yusuf also known as Bob AF from Malaysia, Soesah Tidoer (Indonesia), Tritha (India), Bembol Rockers (Philippines), V. Star Band (Korea) ft Kamal Mussalam.

The other performers were Fakhrul Razi featuring Camouflage (Brunei), Boy Thai Band (Thailand), Antoney Dassan Yen Party (India) and Foxy Girls (Indonesia).

Also present was Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club chief executive officer Kueh Chie Tiong.

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Malaysia: Govt to persevere in saving rhinos from extinction – Masidi

Borneo Post, 5 Oct 13;

LOK KAWI: The state government will not give up on saving the Bornean Sumatra rhinoceros from going extinction.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidin Manjun said among the efforts that had already been undertaken was to ensure that the species was protected at its natural habitat.

At the same time, the government has also begun a breeding programme which is being carried out at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Tabin.

“We have forged international collaborations to help us with the breeding programme and we hope it will help to increase the population in the future,” Masidi said during the 50th anniversary celebration in the protection of wildlife in Sabah at Lokkawi Wildlife Park near here yesterday. He was presented by his deputy minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombi.

It is estimated that Sabah presently has 10 rhinoceros left in the wild.

According to Kamarlin, Sabah was now faced with the possibility of losing its Borneo Sumatra rhinoceros as its population was now at a worrisome level.

The state government, represented by Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu, attended the First Asian Rhino Range State Meeting at Bandar Lampung, in Indonesia recently.

Dr Laurentius, during the meeting there, said Malaysia risked losing the only Asian rhino that she has, the Sumatran rhino, unless a concerted global effort to save it was achieved by the end of this decade.

He said it was believed that there were probably as low as 10 individual rhinos left in the wild in Sabah presently.

“Doing nothing except increasing habitat protection would be the final nail in the coffin of the Sumatran rhinos’ extinction. There are just too few number of individuals coupled by infertile rhinos, old rhinos, skewed sex ratio and insufficient breeding to just leave them to their own devices in the wild,” he said.

He added that the only consensus was that we have to act quickly to boost Sumatran rhino births and Sabah had decided that there was now an urgent need to get as many (if not all remaining) rhinos into fenced, managed conditions as soon as possible so that every rhino can be closely monitored and treated as necessary, to get them producing embryos.

“The exact location where the rhinos are kept is not a paramount concern for the programme. It does not necessarily be in Sabah. We can move rhinos between facilities as long as the care is always world class and the intention is to breed rhinos. I do believe that at this stage, both Malaysia and Indonesia can and should take lead roles on this. Besides this we should leave no stones unturned; and all scientific options available to save the Sumatran rhino must be explored no matter how controversial,” he said.

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