Last night Channel News Asia reported the heightened presence of Vibrio sp. bacteria amongst our fish farms causing severe loss of stock in some Lim Chu Kang farms. I am not sure if this outbreak is confined to the western Johor Straits and AVA does not seem to have issued a press release as yet.
Ria Tan checked Lim Chu Kang beach the same night, where she saw dead fish washed ashore. She also checked Sungei Buloh and Pasir Ris but there was no dead fish there.
For now I do not know if Vibrio is in eastern Johor Straits which includes the waters off Changi. Nor the species.
Vibrio sp. causes gastrointestinal illness in people who eaten infected and undercooked seafood, and may cause wound infection of open cuts or broken skin exposed to seawater. E.g. see this CDC page.
Students with suspected broken cuts are likely to be denied a chance to seine next Friday, during the LSM1103 Biodiversity practical at Changi Beach. Since this may be difficult to determine, I might simply cancel the seine by students.
We’ll be cautious and I’ll read up more and monitor the news.
Meanwhile, Ria is compiling records, so do inform her if you see dead fish on our shores.
She says,
“Dead Fish Alert!
Please help me monitor dead fishes washing up on the Johor Straits. Please let me know if you see large numbers (more than 10) especially of large dead fishes (more than 20cm long) washing up on the northern shores such as Pulau Ubin, Lim Chu Kang, Sungei Buloh, Kranji, Sembawang, Punggol, Pasir Ris, Changi. ”
Maybe not this October!
Otterman speaks... 