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  Today Online 4 Feb 06
Problem of illegal netters at beaches
 Letter from Nur Azzahar

Fishing is a good pastime that helps anglers cement bonds of friendship or distress at the end of the week.

But these days, fishing around Changi Beach, Pasir Ris Beach or even East Coast Beach areas is no longer so great.

This is due to illegal netters who set out their jaring (fish traps with floaters) near the shore where fellow fishing enthusiasts or beach-goers frequent. These fish traps can stretch up to 100 metres long.

Doesn't this method risk depleting the fish stocks around the Singapore shoreline and indiscriminately killing lots of other marine life?

These netters will just pick the fish they want and dispose of unwanted booty such as horseshoe crabs, starfish and jellyfish.

The nets could also endanger beach-goers who might get entangled and drown.

Some of my fishing kakis filed a report with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and was referred to the Maritime Port Authority (MPA).

Days later, the reply from MPA came — it said the matter was under the NEA's jurisdiction as it is related to the environment.

We would like to know who should take charge of this matter and what does the agency intend to do?
links
More about death caused by nets on our shores ...
On Siva's habitatnews More than 100 horsehoe crabs rescued from gill net at Mandai
Sufferring a net loss by Radha Basu The Straits Times, 13 Jul 05
Removing a drift net from Lazarus
Waiman and Zaki, Chek Jawa guides, talk about removing a drift net from Chek Jawa

You CAN make a difference!
Send your thoughts to the authorities as Nur Azzahar has done. So it is not seen as an isolated issue and that there are many people that care about this.

More on what you can do about nets

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