Singapore’s Food System: Key points from our last panel discussion
Green Drinks Singapore
Read more!
Best of our wild blogs: 20 Dec 18
Read more!
Malaysia's plan to restrict export of fish twice next year unlikely to have significant impact: AVA
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.
Read more!
European officials agree on ban of some single-use plastics
FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press Yahoo News 20 Dec 18;
BERLIN (AP) — Plastic knives just won't cut it any longer, if the European Union has its way.
The 28-nation bloc moved closer to banning single-use straws, plates, cutlery and cotton swabs, after officials from EU member states and the European Parliament on Wednesday backed recommendations by its executive branch designed to reduce marine pollution.
Environmental campaigners have been calling for curbs on throwaway plastic that's accumulating in the oceans because, unlike organic materials, it doesn't decompose but simply breaks down into ever smaller pieces.
Read more!
Best of our wild blogs: 19 Dec 18
"A Blueprint For Blue Waters" - Asian Scientist Magazine
Singapore Blue Plan 2018
Labrador Park Survey
Offshore Singapore
Singapore Bird Report – November 2018
Singapore Bird Group
Read more!
Deer dies in accident along Mandai Road
Channel NewsAsia 19 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE: A deer died on Tuesday evening (Dec 18) in an accident involving a motorcycle along Mandai Road towards Mandai Avenue.
The police said they were alerted to the incident at 8.10pm, adding that the motorcyclist escaped with minor abrasions.
Photos posted on Facebook by the Nature Society Singapore group showed a deer lying on the road. Blood could be seen near the animal's face.
According to the post, the accident occurred at around 7.20pm.
Read more!
Chickens roaming in Tampines to be rehomed after some residents cry fowl
Timothy Goh Straits Times 18 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE - Some Tampines residents are in a flap about a flock of more than 50 chickens roaming in their neighbourhood.
The Tampines Town Council said it is working with animal welfare group Acres to rehome some chickens near Block 266 Tampines Street 21, after several residents complained about the noise they made.
The fowl problem was reported in the media in September, after some residents were upset that some chickens were removed following complaints.
Since then, the chicken population has grown because of reproduction and residents feeding them.
Read more!
Malaysia to stop exporting four species of fish and shrimp from Jan 1 to Feb 28
Today Online 17 Dec 18;
KUALA LUMPUR — A week after declaring that it may limit or stop the export of eggs, Malaysia has announced that it will prohibit the export of four species of fish and shrimp.
This is to meet the shortage in the market during the monsoon and festive seasons, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said on Monday (Dec 17).
The Bernama news agency said that four species — mackerel, trevally, Indian mackerel and pomfret — will be prohibited from export from Jan 1 to Feb 28, 2019.
Read more!
Wildlife group rescues abandoned marmoset seen 'appearing lost' at Punggol HDB
Channel NewsAsia 17 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE: A black-tufted marmoset, a species of monkey that is one of the most illegally smuggled wildlife, has been rescued after it was spotted in Punggol over the weekend.
This is the fifth marmoset rescued in Singapore this year.
Wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) told Channel NewsAsia on Monday (Dec 17) it received an alert on Saturday night that the marmoset had been "sighted appearing lost" outside Block 271D, Punggol Walk.
ACRES officers visited the area on Sunday morning to look for the animal and interview residents. A member of the public later spotted the adult marmoset at a basement parking area and managed to contain it in a cardboard box and alert ACRES.
"ACRES is shocked to rescue a fifth marmoset in a year," the rescue group told Channel NewsAsia.
Read more!
Adoption of global climate action plan gives Singapore greater certainty of world's commitment: Masagos
Audrey Tan Straits Times 16 Dec 18;
KATOWICE, Poland - With almost 200 nations agreeing to adopt a global action plan to tackle global warming, Singapore will have greater certainty about the world's commitment to dealing with climate change, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said on Saturday (Dec 15) night.
This is especially important for Singapore which is a vulnerable, low-lying island, he told The Straits Times in Katowice, Poland, after the action plan, or the Katowice Rulebook, was adopted following a marathon two-week conference.
Asked what it means for Singapore, Mr Masagos said: "There is certainty that all countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement will now actually start to report on their climate pledges, and there is a clear rule of how that will be done, with no more suspicion or ambiguity about what it means."
Read more!
As countries wage war on plastics, the jury's still out on how best to tackle the problem
LOW YOUJIN Today Online 15 Dec 18;
SINGAPORE — In Rwanda, being caught with a plastic bag is a crime. The African nation is so serious about tackling the global plastic pollution crisis that since a decade ago, it is illegal to import, produce, use or sell plastic bags and plastic packaging except for specific industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Those caught carrying illegal plastic are liable to be fined, jailed or forced to make public confessions, the New York Times reported last year. In 2017, another African nation, Kenya, also enacted a law to punish anyone making, selling or importing plastic bags with as much as four years in jail or a US$19,000 (S$26,140) fine.
While their measures to combat plastic pollution are not as drastic compared to Rwanda or Kenya, more than 40 countries the world over including China, the United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia have banned, restricted or taxed the use of single-use plastics. The European Union (EU) is planning to enact a ban on such use among its member countries by 2021.
Read more!
Malaysia: Bird flu causing egg price hike - Minister
The Star 16 Dec 18;
IPOH: The increase in the prices of eggs is due to the bird flu affecting the poultry industry, says Datuk Salahuddin Ayub (pic).
The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister said the flu was causing a shortage in supply but assured consumers that the problem was only temporary.
“We are in discussions with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry on steps to contain the pricing,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Parti Amanah Negara’s national convention here yesterday.
According to recent reports, egg farmers were closing shop due to soaring feed prices. As such, egg production dropped by about 70% as compared to two years ago.
Read more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
visitors since Nov 07