When we mention fishing, most of us would imagine massive trawlers steaming across the high seas or vast stretches of drift nets purging our oceans of its resources. Or maybe this scene in Finding Nemo:
But there’s a side to fishing in Singapore that largely goes unnoticed; a side that, if left unchecked, could have severe consequences on Singapore’s marine life in the near future.
Shore fishing, as its name suggests, refers to fishing activity taking place from Singapore’s shores. In other words, any form of land-based saltwater fishing. (You often see them fishing from jettys, or from the beach itself!)
The angling community has borne the burden of blame for many marine-related issues including the decline in many fish populations, excessive animal cruelty and pollution in terms of marine debris left behind by irresponsible anglers. It is for this exact reason that we require fishing regulations to mitigate the impacts of a sport enjoyed by many.
Shore fishing in Singapore is unregulated and leaves much to be desired. Having fished our shores for 16 years, I’ve come to realise that something more needs to be done in order to preserve our marine biodiversity. I’m definitely not the most environmentally friendly person out there in the world. Nor do I deny the impacts on our oceans which the angling community is responsible for. But believe me when I say that I love the oceans as much as any straight-laced conservationist out there.
So, what is there for us to conserve? Singapore has 1501 species of fish and counting, including…
And we have more than just fish!
Unfortunately, Singapore has done little to nothing to protect our marine biodiversity from the impacts of unsustainable shore fishing. This has resulted in an overall widespread decline in both variety and abundance of fish in our waters2 over the years. In spite of that, the Public Utilities Board has hardly altered its fishing laws in the past decade. Here are the existing regulations set by PUB regarding freshwater fishing.
The same would apply to saltwater fishing with the exception of the rule banning the use of bait. The key thing to note is that there is an absence of size and bag limits for fish in Singapore, resulting in many undersized or even critically endangered fish being taken to the table.
Just in case you’re wondering, here is a really simple illustration of how size limits work.
Not all that difficult to understand, right? Now compare the situation in Singapore to that of Florida. You can view the full document here. Fish are listed according to species and their respective maturity lengths, with bag limits and additional remarks are clearly displayed. Furthermore, there are stricter rules put in place for the release of certain species such as the tarpon as shown below. These rules are to facilitate the successful catch and release of fish which conditions deteriorate rapidly out of water. You can view the full document here.
Regulations like these have been replicated all over the world, more notably in one of the most famous global fishing tournaments: The Royal Pahang Billfishing International Challenge. You can find out more about it here. Rules for the tournament stipulate that sailfish caught should be handled, recorded, and photographed in the water before release.
These regulations help promote sustainable sport fishing in their respective countries and attracts international attention, bringing in revenue from tourists all over the world. In contrast, how much have you heard about Singapore’s fishing community prior to reading this article? Perhaps, for other nations, fishing is an industry where its foundations (the fish, of course!) are strictly protected by specific regulations in order to promote and expand the industry.
Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the final section of Florida’s fishing guide.
Notice the words “Prohibited Species”? This places endangered species such as the goliath grouper and sawfish under protection from anglers.
News flash: Singapore does not even do this.
Bigger news flash: We have critically endangered species such as the shovelnose ray patrolling our waters. Unprotected.
Ever heard of the IUCN Red List? Get on their website and search up some of our local species. You’ll be surprised at how many of them are classified as vulnerable or worse. Here’s one for you:
Who knew that your delicious sambal stingray was a vulnerable dish?
We are at a crucial juncture where our waters still hold potential. But only if we make the effort to preserve and protect our marine biodiversity. If you’re one of the lucky people who’ve been exposed to the joy of fishing, do try to adhere to sustainable fishing practices on your own such as releasing under-sized fish.
Local non-profit organization Marine Stewards recently produced a rough guide for anglers to use. Not an angler but want to help out? Contact our dear local authorities and see if they’ll take any action. Don’t be disheartened if they won’t; I’ve tried it too. And if there’s one thing I can promise, it’s that I’m working on it. We’re fortunate enough to be blessed with such bountiful waters. Let’s try and keep it that way.
1. Huang et al, 2009. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement No. 22: 69-802. Chou L. M. et al, 2006. Marine Habitats in One of the World’s Busiest Harbours. The Environment in Asia Pacific Harbours pp.377-391
2. Chou L. M. et al, 2006. Marine Habitats in One of the World’s Busiest Harbours. The Environment in Asia Pacific Harbours pp.377-391
Cover image from The Straits Times https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/with-wild-fish-stocks-on-the-brink-singapore-turns-to-high-tech-fish-factories
