The Dragon fish, Scleropages formosus, is also known as Asian Arowana. It is one of the most sought-after ornamental fish by hobbyists. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has classified the fish as one of the most highly endangered species and listed it under CITES Appendix 1. For animals or plants listed under this category, their commercial import, export and sale are normally prohibited in all member countries unless the specimens concerned are bred in captivity or can be artificially propagated, or used for non-commercial purposes such as research, teaching, breeding or propagation.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, which is the CITES authority in Singapore, is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure that all Dragon fish exported from Singapore are farm-bred. To ensure good management of Dragon fish stocks for sustained production and to regulate recruitment of new stock, the Authority implemented a Scheme for the registration of Dragon fish farms. The Scheme, known as "Dragon Fish Farm Registration Scheme", registers all Dragon fish farms in Singapore so that proper documentation of the farm production and sales can be maintained and a certain standard of farm management is practised.
Members of the Scheme will have a breeding programme for the Dragon fish population maintained in the farm. All the Dragon fish stocks of all generations will be electronically tagged and documented and the farmer will rear the different year classes of Founder stock and their filial generations in separate ponds. In addition, the farms are required to report and register with AVA whenever they produce a new brood of fry from their captive breeding operation. Harvesting will be carried out using a technique that enable AVA inspecting officers to verify the parental lines of offspring produced, such as collection of fry from the mouth of brooder. A complete record of the numbers and date of collection of the progeny from the Dragon fish brooders and the batch of captive breeding stock from which these progeny are collected from are maintained by the farmers.
Main Criteria for membership application are as follows:
- The applicant must have a valid AVA farm licence for a farm wherein captive-bred fish are to be produced.
- The applicant must own a minimum number of 50 pieces of Captive Breeding stock of Dragon Fish at any one time when seeking registration for the farm and must also submit a breeding programme.
- The applicant must agree to abide by all rules and regulations stated by AVA under the Scheme.
For conditions of the Scheme and the application form, click here.
Aquaculture Services Centre
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore
Sembawang Research Station
Lorong Chencharu
Singapore 769194
Tel: 65-67519851
Fax: 65-67523242
Operating hours
| Mon - Thu |
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8.00am - 12.30pm
1.30pm - 5.30pm |
| Fri |
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8.00am - 12.30pm
1.30pm - 5.00pm |
| Sat, Sun and public holidays |
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Closed |
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