[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/onwards-to-a-future-of-sustainable-fishing-in-singapore\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/onwards-to-a-future-of-sustainable-fishing-in-singapore\/","headline":"Onwards to a future of sustainable fishing in Singapore","name":"Onwards to a future of sustainable fishing in Singapore","description":"Rod loosely in hand, Jubel Punnoose Mathew, 19, scans the waters beneath the jetty at Pandan Reservoir, in western Singapore, with observant eyes. Occasionally, he stands back to cast the rod, the brightly coloured micro crankbait attached towards the end of the line flashing as it catches the sunlight.\u00a0 In the first 20 minutes of […]","datePublished":"2021-07-22","dateModified":"2022-04-14","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/Ming%20En%20Liew\/#Person","name":"Ming En Liew","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/author\/Ming%20En%20Liew\/","identifier":132,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fe7a89455a989038349633329a6e4ad6299388f5e1e3ea83c28126090b2314f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fe7a89455a989038349633329a6e4ad6299388f5e1e3ea83c28126090b2314f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"TheHomeGround Asia","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/photo_2021-07-22-222533.jpeg","width":640,"height":640}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1626949104384_1280X626_284929.jpg","url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/1626949104384_1280X626_284929.jpg","height":626,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/onwards-to-a-future-of-sustainable-fishing-in-singapore\/","commentCount":"2","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/onwards-to-a-future-of-sustainable-fishing-in-singapore\/#Comment1","dateCreated":"2026-06-17 13:34:22","description":"I don't think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https:\/\/accounts.binance.bh\/register\/person?ref=JW3W4Y3A","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"\u0422\u0435\u0433\u043d \u0430\u043a\u0430\u0443\u043d\u0442 \u0436\u0430\u0441\u0430\u0443","url":"https:\/\/accounts.binance.com\/kz\/register?ref=K8NFKJBQ"}},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/onwards-to-a-future-of-sustainable-fishing-in-singapore\/#Comment2","dateCreated":"2026-04-19 22:04:40","description":"Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me? https:\/\/www.binance.com\/register?ref=JW3W4Y3A","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"skapa binance-konto","url":"https:\/\/www.binance.info\/register?ref=QCGZMHR6"}}],"about":["Community","Environment","Local","Singapore"],"wordCount":1747,"articleBody":"Rod loosely in hand, Jubel Punnoose Mathew, 19, scans the waters beneath the jetty at Pandan Reservoir, in western Singapore, with observant eyes. Occasionally, he stands back to cast the rod, the brightly coloured micro crankbait attached towards the end of the line flashing as it catches the sunlight.\u00a0In the first 20 minutes of his session, he catches two peacock basses. After snapping a few quick photos, he releases them back into the water.\u00a0This is a weekly affair for Mr Jubel, who has been fishing for the past five years, after his interest in the sport was first piqued at the tender age of 14.\u00a0But, he says, fishing these days is more difficult than it used to be due to tightened regulations on where anglers can fish, coupled with an increase of recreational anglers in Singapore: \u201cThe legal grounds [available] are a bit absurd. The space they provide is too little for the amount of anglers there are.\u201dThe jetty at Pandan Reservoir along Penjuru Road, is a popular fishing spot, despite its small size. (Photo source: Adhir Kirtikar \/ Wikimedia Commons)When TheHomeGround Asia joined Mr Jubel for a short fishing session on the West Coast side of Pandan Reservoir, he shares that the small jetty located across the reservoir along Penjuru Road was already filled with five anglers on a weekday afternoon.\u00a0Mr Jubel\u2019s concerns are echoed by fellow angler Ng Jia An, 31, who has been a part of the local fishing community for nearly two decades, and served as a professional fishing guide in Papua New Guinea for eight years, before returning to Singapore because of the pandemic.\u00a0Mr Ng says, \u201cThe Government has put in slight efforts to open up legal fishing grounds, but taking into consideration that the general public will be using these places, the fishing grounds are generally very shallow, easy to access, and safe to use.\u201d\u00a0But from an angler\u2019s perspective, \u201cWhen [a location] is easy to access and is shallow\u2026 There\u2019s no fish.\u201dAnd while both Messrs Jubel and Ng acknowledge that such restrictions were implemented in view of public safety, to prevent potential accidents from happening when fishing in areas that are less secure, Mr Jubel says that such limitations could have implications on safety and the sport as well.\u00a0Jubel Punnoose Mathew hopes that more legal fishing grounds can be made available for anglers. (Photo courtesy of Jubel Punnoose Mathew)\u201cSince we are using treble hooks and [other types of fishing equipment], when we cast, we might accidentally hook onto the person that\u2019s behind,\u201d he explains. Having limited spaces for anglers to fish might also cause a phenomenon known as \u2018fishing pressure\u2019, where fishes \u201cjust stop biting due to the amount of pressure that\u2019s being put on that area.\u201d\u00a0He elaborates, \u201cIf the grounds were bigger, there\u2019s more space for us [anglers] to fish, and the pressure wouldn\u2019t be as concentrated.\u201dBut besides constraints on where anglers can fish inland, extensive regulations surrounding proper fishing etiquette and sustainable fishing within Singapore\u2019s waterways are still lacking.\u00a0Current regulations surrounding fishing within SingaporeOn current regulations, Malcolm Lim, 17, who has been fishing for seven years, says, \u201cThere is definitely room for improvement. Authorities can be more open and understanding of the hobby, and further review current legislation.\u201dAt the moment, the only legislations applicable to inland fishing are designated sites, and the prohibition of live bait. These regulations are enforced by Singapore\u2019s national water agency, PUB (Public Utilities Board), in order to ensure public safety and maintain the water quality in reservoirs, with those caught breaching the violations being subject to a fine of up to S$3,000 (US$2,202).When it comes to the actual sport, PUB does lay out recommendations for responsible and considerate fishing practices. In July 2020, PUB had begun deploying special bins across the island to encourage proper disposal of used lines and hooks, in an attempt to prevent fishing gear from causing potential danger to passers by or becoming marine litter.\u00a0On-the-ground organisations like Marine Stewards have also developed a set of guidelines to encourage sustainable fishing practices in Singapore, such as promoting catch-and-release, releasing juvenile, threatened, and endangered species, and keeping invasive ones.\u00a0But, the National Parks Board highlights that mandating catch-and-release as a regulation would be challenging, due to various reasons like difficulties in enforcement and the survivability of fish who may be caught.\u00a0Still, anglers like Mr Ng welcome expanded regulations and believe that much more can be done by authorities to better manage the fishing landscape locally. He provides the example of Australia, a case study he lauds as having \u201cthe best policy in the world.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThere, each angler that wants to go fishing within their states or province have to apply for a fishing permit, and the Government has set up a body overlooking it and ensuring that all these are in place,\u201d he expounds.\u00a0\u201cAnglers who go fishing have to bring their permit. They get checked on, and they have got to clean the place up after they use it. There\u2019s regulation on the fish sizes that they can take back for food.\u201d\u00a0Ng Jia An (left) believes that more can be done to better manage the local fishing landscape, citing Australia’s measures as a good example. (Photo courtesy of Ng Jia An)The Government then uses the permit fees collected to run and improve the fishing programmes. For instance, in the state of New South Wales, money raised is placed into Recreational Fishing Trusts and goes towards projects such as refurbishing jetties, research for conservation programmes, or introducing facilities to help anglers, such as fish cleaning tables.But with the lack of local regulations in place at the moment, anglers TheHomeGround Asia spoke to underscore the need for the community to bear the responsibility itself.\u00a0Responsibility of anglers\u201cIt is important for anglers to represent themselves positively, starting with practising good fishing etiquette,\u201d Mr Lim says. \u201cBy having the general public view the fishing community positively, it will provide them with an incentive to support an improvement in the regulation of freshwater fishing.\u201dIn a bid to push for better regulation of inland fishing in Singapore, Mr Lim surveyed 110 local anglers in early-July to understand their stance on various issues within the community. Results found that a whopping 88.5 per cent of respondents recognised a need for the community at-large to improve their fishing etiquette.\u00a0Salient points raised include a need to \u201cmaintain the cleanliness of fishing areas, and being observant of surroundings when casting.\u201d\u00a0Anglers in the community also highlighted the need for public education on how to properly practise catch-and-release, and ensuring proper treatment of the catch to improve chances of survivability.\u00a0The long-term sustainability of Singapore\u2019s fish population also stands to gain when basic fishing etiquette is practised, emphasises Mr Jubel, who says, \u201cIf everybody does their part, follows the rules, doesn’t bring back everything [they catch], catch-and-release, the fish population can be quite decent.\u201d\u00a0Aside from maintaining a healthy fish population, Mr Lim allays worries that fishing might be detrimental to Singapore\u2019s marine biodiversity: \u201cMany members of the public believe that [freshwater] fishing has a negative impact on the environment in Singapore when in reality, there is not much of a difference, since we only target invasive species.\u201d\u00a0He clarifies that freshwater anglers primarily fish peacock basses, toman, and arowana \u2013 all of which are invasive species in Singapore\u2019s waterways.\u00a0Malcolm Lim clarifies that the common game fish being caught in Singapore’s reservoirs are arowana, toman, and peacock bass, all of which are invasive species in our waters. (Photo courtesy of Malcolm Lim)For their own part, Messrs Ng, Lim, and Jubel are practising what they preach, and mainly practising catch-and-release, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Mr Jubel explains that he rarely brings home what he catches, unless his parents have asked him to. While Mr Lim says that he only brings fish back if it was severely injured and unlikely to survive after being released.\u00a0\u201cWe are anglers,\u201d states Mr Jubel. \u201cWe don\u2019t fish for food, we fish for sport and to enjoy nature.\u201d\u00a0Equipment, as well, is something Mr Lim is mindful of; after an unfortunate experience while using a gaff hook (a rope tied to a giant hook, used to hoist fish up jetties that are high above the water) that accidentally killed a mother fish guarding its fry, Mr Lim has been deterred from using gaff hooks altogether. Instead, he now makes it a point to use alternative methods, such as nets to land fish from high ground, which increases the survivability of his catch.\u00a0Presenting a united frontAside from practising good etiquette, Messrs Lim and Jubel also highlight the need for all anglers to be considerate in public, so that the community is taken seriously. Says Mr Lim, \u201cHow the hobby is represented needs to be improved\u2026 Although it is much more common amongst youth, anglers often get into arguments with other members of the public when confronted for illegal fishing in boardwalks and city areas.\u201d\u00a0Mr Jubel agrees, \u201cA lot of the younger generation, when they go illegal fishing and security comes and tells them, some of them will fight back. That\u2019s not nice for us as the public will look at us like some kind of threat going around causing mayhem.\u201d\u00a0He adds, \u201cIt reflects badly on [the anglers] that actually do put in the effort to make fishing look good in Singapore, and do proper things like being mindful and respectful to the public.\u201d\u00a0If the fishing community in Singapore is keen for change to occur, Mr Ng argues that the community will need to come together as a united body: \u201cAt this stage, everyone wants to have a say and be heard in the fishing community…they don\u2019t really see things eye to eye, all they want is the best for themselves, so it can be quite tricky.\u201dHe continues, \u201cWhen you stand united, and we have 50,000 anglers that are active and willing to voice out, the Government will have no choice but to actually start paying attention and providing a proper response.\u201d\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s an uphill battle,\u201d he rues. \u201cBut there are a lot of people who are passionate about fishing. There are a lot of people that are trying.\u201d\u00a0Join the conversations on TheHomeGround Asia’s Facebook and Instagram, and get the latest updates via Telegram. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Destinations","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/\/singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Onwards to a future of sustainable fishing in Singapore","item":"https:\/\/thehomeground.asia\/destinations\/singapore\/onwards-to-a-future-of-sustainable-fishing-in-singapore\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]