Planktons struck- fish farmers needing help

Noven Chew and a member of the Nylon String, the organiser of the Charity event

Bachata Rosa's dancers



Last Thursday the ST put up another article on the plight of fish farmers struck by killer planktons in the Straits of Johore. A few hundred tons of fish for the table were wiped out in a matter of days and the poor farmers saw their hard work went belly up. Their harvests were gone, each losing hundreds of thousands of dollars, putting their livelihood at stake. It was a big blow to the industry and to the fish farmers with limited resources. They needed all the financial assistance to replenish their fish stocks and to go about without income for months.

The AVA has stepped in to provide technical assistance and some financial help to give the fish farmers a new start, new fish stocks and fries, technology and equipment to protect against new plankton proliferations in the water and threatening the fish stocks.

Private individuals have also step forward to give a helping hand to the fish farmers. Noven Chew, a single mum, lost almost everything and her friends rounded up their friends to get her farm back to shape. A group calling themselves ‘Nylon String Men’, the organizer, worked with Victor, the owner of Hooha Pub/Café in Pasir Panjang to raise fund for Noven two weekends ago. Local singers and dancers answered the call to perform for a charity night at Hooha.

Bachata Rosa, a single mum helping another single mum, also did her part, contributing  two dance items for the night with 4 dancers from 4 different age group.

It is heartening to see fellow citizens standing to help fellow citizens in difficult times. Many thanks to the Nylon String Men, Victor and Bachata Rosa for their public spiritedness and generosities. Govt bodies can help, the people too can do their parts and lend a helping hand when fellow citizens are in need.