Havelock Palace apologises after cooking beach-foraged seafood in Singapore

Singapore's Havelock Palace, a Chinese restaurant, has issued a public apology after it cooked seafood foraged from Changi Beach. The controversy began weeks earlier when a video surfaced showing a group of individuals collecting mass quantities of marine life, including crabs and clams, from the beach. The foragers then brought their haul to Havelock Palace for preparation. The video quickly went viral, drawing intense public scrutiny and triggering a wave of one-star Google reviews for the restaurant, alongside heavy criticism of the foragers, who have since disbanded.

The backlash also caught the attention of local politician Valerie Lee, Member of Parliament for the Changi division of Pasir Ris–Changi GRC. In a social media post, Lee called the video 'deplorable', emphasising that the issue was not just about legality but about a fundamental lack of respect for animals, fragile ecosystems, and the traditions of ancient foragers who understood the principle of taking only what you need. In response, Havelock Palace pledged to implement stricter sourcing practices, acknowledging that the incident had damaged its reputation and expressing regret for its role in the episode.