STOMPer Edwin spotted groups of people fishing at the Upper Peirce reservoir, blatantly disobeying the reservoir’s rules.
In an email to STOMP, he says:
"This happened last Sunday, March 1.
"My friends and I saw a group of people fishing down at the reservoir when there was a "NO FISHING" sign clearly situated at different parts of the reservoir.
"We got really angry when we saw that and tried to stop them but to no avail.
"In the end, we got it on tape and one of my friends even called the authorities.
"I wanted to post it on STOMP to inform others of inconsiderate acts and send a message out to the public to not do this."
Related post: No fishing at West Coast Park: Nobody gives a damn (7th March 2009)
Do check out the video posted on STOMP.
Once again, another case of selective vision.
I discovered a few interesting sites that discuss the controversy of opening up MacRitchie, Lower Peirce, and Upper Seletar Reservoirs for fishing in 2000. Some of the problems that were raised included introduction of non-native aquatic species, with negative impacts on threatened and endangered native aquatic organisms, overharvesting of fish, and pollution of our water catchments due an increase in litter and decomposition of baits (although the law states that only artificial lures are to be used, it is certain that many ignore this rule). Heavy metal pollution resulting from leaching of lead from weights and lures into our water supply was also brought up.
Fishing in our reservoirs - For better or for worse?
Fishing in 3 central reservoirs may have adverse ecological impact
I also came upon a recent New York Times article that gave a little glimpse of the pecking order within Singapore's fishing community:
As we fished, Tay apprised me of the social structure of the Singaporean angling scene.
Lure fishermen were the middle rung. They fished with spinning and bait-casting outfits and used artificial lures and mostly practiced catch and release. Fly anglers also practiced catch and release, he said, but tended to look down on the lure fishermen. The snobbery was a big problem, and they thought of themselves as angling elitists.
However, both groups, he said, were united in deep hatred for bait fishermen.
"Everyone is against the baiters," Tay said. "They come out at night and they throw nothing back. They kill everything."
- Fishing in Singapore for an Anti-Singapore Fish
