|
| all news articles | by topics |
|
news
articles about singapore's wild places
|
| Channel
NewsAsia 15
May 05 Illegal fishing communities play hide and seek with authorities by Ken Teh SINGAPORE : Several illegal fishing communities have been active along the Singapore coastline. Some have apparently gone unnoticed for years, while others have been on the move to avoid being noticed by the authorities. Some fisherman along the northern coast of Singapore make a living off the sea. Even though it is a tough life, they can be considered lucky, as they have permits to build their fishing huts and moor their boats legally. But there is another group of fishermen who play hide and seek when plying their trade. They are hidden deep in the mangrove swamps scattered along the coastal areas of Singapore. Living in floating platforms built from wooden planks and plastic barrels, the fishermen eke out a living. "We catch fish here. We've been here all along, from kampong days till now," one of them said. In fact they have been pulling their illegal mobile home by boat from one area to the next to evade the authorities. Said Mr Chen, a fisherman, "We don't have a licence. We rely on fishing for our livelihood. If they remove us, how do we make a living? We can't earn enough to survive. In a month we can make only about a S$1,000, and each of us takes back a few hundred dollars only." Without electricity, many resort to using kerosene lamps or generators. Fresh water is another big problem -- some have turned to digging wells to get water, while others have devised ingenious contraptions to collect rain water for washing and bathing. There is also a tiny kitchen and a cosy sleeping area -- simple trappings that make this place home. Asked what plans he had, Mr Chen said, "We'll just have to take each day as it comes. What can we do?" And if the authorities asked him to leave? "If they do, we have no choice but to do it. What can we do?" he replied. A check on another area along the northern coast revealed an even more surprising find -- a whole row of floating huts built by a colony of fishermen. The Maritime Port Authority says they have not approved this site as an official mooring area for boats. Asked how many people lived there, one of fisherman replied, "Over 10 people. We don't really live here, we just fish here." Most have their own public housing flats nearby but say they need a place to store their fishing equipment and moor their boats. But nearby marinas are not an option, as mooring facilities there are far too expensive for them. Many of the fishermen are elderly, without immediate family members or retirement savings. One such man, 77-year-old Mr Yang, has been catching crabs for nearly 60 years. He said, "I just catch a little bit and it's just enough to survive. The marine authorities don't disturb us now because we are so old, we're going to die soon already (laughs). Why disturb us?" Some say they had appealed to the authorities for permits to set up home here, but were turned down. Bakri Hussain, a former fisherman, understands their plight. "It's not easy to be a fisherman. They're old timers and have nothing in their Medisave. If the government can give them a place, they'll be happy even if it is rented out to them," he said. For old timers like Mr Yang, the prospect of relocation to the mainland is frightening to say the least. His only wish is to be left alone to quietly spend the rest of his days fishing. links Related articles on Wild shores of Singapore |
| News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes. | |
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com |