Uncovering our seafood heritage
April 07, 2025
Environmental Studies alumnus (2021) Elliott James Ong grew up visiting wet markets with his parents and grandparents, picking up tips from them.
However, over the years, footfall to wet markets has been falling. In a bid to address this, Elliott and his ex-colleague decided to bring together their shared interests in seafood to start Pasarfish (@pasarfishsg) in June 2024.
As a ‘co-flounder’ of Pasarfish, Elliott has the opportunity to combine his passions for nature-based solutions and community engagement to help people better understand the seafood they consume.
At Tekka Market, one of Singapore’s oldest and most culturally diverse markets, Pasarfish documents the rich diversity of fish sold – tracing their local names, culinary uses, countries of origin and fishing methods. This initiative advocates for traceability and sustainability in our seafood supply chains, while nurturing public appreciation for wet markets.
The Pasarfish team also runs guided wet market tours and conducts workshops and citizen science surveys. Through these initiatives, Elliott hopes to promote conscious consumption and engage audiences to create an affinity with our seafood heritage and the ecosystems which the various fish species depend on.
Elliott says, “It is like returning home. The memories come easily in a place like this, where the past lingers in small and everyday ways.”
