Singapore launches tilapia breeding centre to boost sustainable aquaculture

SINGAPORE – A new National Broodstock Centre for marine tilapia was recently launched to breed high-quality fingerlings for local fish farms, addressing a key source of high fish mortality rates, in a move to revive the Republic’s struggling aquaculture sector. 

The centre, revealed to the media on May 20, is operated by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (Safef) and funded by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). 

Located at Max Koi Farm in Lim Chu Kang, the facility has been operating for six months and aims to produce its first batch of selectively bred juvenile tilapia by early 2026.

The initiative is part of Singapore’s broader strategy to boost food security and local seafood production, which accounted for just 7.3 per cent of the country’s seafood consumption in 2023. 

The national goal is to produce 30 per cent of the nation’s nutritional needs locally by 2030, though officials have acknowledged the timeline may shift.

The new centre focuses on breeding tilapia with traits such as reddish-golden skin, strong disease resistance, and the ability to grow to at least 1kg—ideal for filleting and commercial sale. 

Currently, farms import fingerlings from overseas, often of inconsistent quality, leading to mortality rates as high as 80 per cent, according to Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Koh Poh Koon.

“Farms always look for trusted and consistent fingerlings,” said Safef CEO Ken Cheong. “They need to know that the parentage of the fingerlings that they get are good parents. Because with good parents, the fish will grow to the correct size.”

The Straits Fish to play critical role in streamlining the industry  

The offspring from the broodstock will be sold only to farms that join The Straits Fish, a farming coalition led by Safef, or those that adopt sustainable practices. 

Established in 2023, The Straits Fish consists of five tilapia farms in the Johor Strait and hatcheries that emphasise eco-friendly methods such as pelleted feed instead of expired bread.

Fingerlings from the centre will be priced at about 50 cents each, similar to current imports. However, with their improved survival and growth rates, reaching market size in about seven months rather than the usual 10, these fish promise greater profitability for farms. 

“A reduction of one month in the growth cycle is a 12 per cent increase in revenue,” said Mr Cheong.

The centre’s strategy includes using the fastest-growing and healthiest fish as brooders, with subsequent generations expected to show even better traits. 

Some offspring will be sent to the nearby Century Aquaculture hatchery, while others will remain for further breeding cycles.

Safef also plans to work with university researchers to refine fish genetics and improve the red tilapia strain, which currently maxes out at 700g, below commercial standards for restaurants and retail.

Professor William Chen, director of the Singapore Agri-Food Innovation Lab, welcomed the initiative but stressed that survival rates depend on more than genetics. 

“Water quality needs to be monitored to ensure the fish do not get sick, and pollution prevention measures should be implemented,” he said. 

He also noted that fish feed can make up 50 to 70 per cent of a farm’s operating costs, reinforcing the importance of efficient farming.

With five farms already producing 600kg of tilapia weekly, Safef says they’re prepared to scale up production fivefold if demand rises. 

“Fulfilling the first 30 per cent is something we cannot let go,” said Mr Cheong. “On when, it can even happen in 2035.”

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