Fisheries Act
(Chapter 111, Section 7)
Fisheries (Fishing Harbour) Rules
R 4
G.N. No. S 166/1971

REVISED EDITION 1990
(25th March 1992)
[18th June 1971]
Citation
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Fisheries (Fishing Harbour) Rules.
Definitions
2.  In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —
“fishing harbour” means any of the places set out in the First Schedule and includes any wharf, pier, dock, jetty, landing place and their adjoining areas on which may be erected fish markets, fish processing plants, repair yards and fuel and ice supply installations;
“proceed to sea” means beyond Port Limits as gazetted from time to time under the provisions of the Port of Singapore Authority Act [Cap. 236];
“vessel” includes any ship or boat or any other description of vessel used in navigation.
Location of fishing harbours
3.  The places set out in the First Schedule shall be fishing harbours for the purposes of these Rules.
Saving
4.  These Rules shall not affect in any manner the liability of any person or vessel to comply with any regulations made pursuant to the Port of Singapore Authority Act.
Fishing vessels to use fishing harbour
5.  No fishing vessel shall, except with the permission of the Director, load or unload fish, ice, fuel, stores, provisions or any cargo at any place other than a fishing harbour.
Other vessels prohibited
6.  Except with the permission of the Director, no vessel other than a fishing vessel, or a vessel belonging to the Port of Singapore Authority, the Government or a statutory board shall use any fishing harbour.
Duties of master
7.  The master of every vessel within any fishing harbour shall —
(a)ensure that his vessel is adequately moored and that the moorings are tended as may be required by the rise and fall of the tide or the passing of other vessels; and
(b)have at all times on board a sufficient number of men to take appropriate action in the case of an emergency.
Directions of fishery officer
8.—(1)  A fishery officer may direct where any vessel shall be berthed, moored or anchored within a fishing harbour and may impose such conditions as he may think fit, and may direct the removal of any vessel from such berth or anchorage to another berth or anchorage, and the time within which the removal shall be effected.
(2)  In case of refusal or neglect to comply with paragraph (1) a fishery officer may do or cause to be done all such acts as are reasonable or necessary for the purpose of carrying out such direction.
Report of accidents
9.  If any vessel is involved in an accident within a fishing harbour, the master of the vessel shall, within 24 hours, submit a full report to the Director.
Duties of master on arrival
10.  The master of any fishing vessel on arrival in Singapore shall, within 24 hours —
(a)supply to the Director a report in such form as he may prescribe containing the following particulars:
(i)the date and time of arrival of the vessel;
(ii)a list of crew members;
(iii)a list of passengers, if any;
(iv)a list of animals on board, if any; and
(v)such other particulars as the Director may require; and
(b)deposit or cause to be deposited at the fishing harbour office —
(i)the document giving his vessel port clearance from his last port;
(ii)a copy of any document listing the cargo to be deposited, discharged or transhipped in the port or place; and
(iii)the log book of the vessel.
Port clearance
11.—(1)  No fishing vessel shall proceed to sea without a port clearance issued by the Director.
(2)  Such port clearance shall be in such form as the Director may prescribe.
(3)  The fee for the issue of a port clearance or a copy thereof shall be as set out in the Third Schedule.
Delayed sailing
12.  If the master of any fishing vessel obtains a port clearance and does not sail within 48 hours thereafter, he shall report to the Director his reason or reasons for not sailing, and if so required, obtain a fresh port clearance.
Application for port clearance
13.—(1)  An application for port clearance shall be in such form as the Director may prescribe.
(2)  No port clearance shall be granted to any fishing vessel whose owner, agent or master has not complied with the Registration of Imports and Exports Act [Cap. 270] or any other written law relating to the import or export of goods from any port or place in Singapore.
(3)  Where under these Rules or any other written law in force in Singapore, a fishing vessel may be detained and if so detained, the Director shall not issue a port clearance to that fishing vessel.
Prohibitions
14.—(1)  No person shall —
(a)loiter, swim or fish within a fishing harbour;
(b)construct or repair any fishing net or gear on the wharf or any other place in a fishing harbour without the permission of the Director;
(c)supply fuel, ice, provisions or services or conduct any business in a fishing harbour without the written permission of the Director;
(d)loosen or remove from its moorings within a fishing harbour any vessel without the leave or authority of the owner or the master of the vessel or the Director;
(e)obstruct the lawful use of any mooring, pier or the wharf in or the approach to a fishing harbour; or
(f)enter on to the wharf or fish market area of a fishing harbour in a vehicle without a vehicle pass issued by the Director in respect of that vehicle.
(2)  The vehicle pass referred to in paragraph (1)(f) shall be issued subject to such conditions as the Director may impose and shall be issued on payment of the fee set out in the Second Schedule.
(3)  A fishery officer may remove or cause to be removed anything which obstructs or impedes the lawful use of any mooring, pier, wharf, landing place or the approaches to the fishing harbour or any unauthorised vehicle from the wharf and the fish market area within a fishing harbour.
Directives of Director
15.  All persons using a fishing harbour shall observe all directives that the Director may issue from time to time.
Fishery officer may board vessels
16.  A fishery officer may board any vessel within any fishing harbour.
Co-operation for inspection
17.  The master of any vessel, and any other person having charge of any person or thing liable to inspection or examination under these Rules, shall give a fishery officer every reasonable facility for the purpose of inspection or examination.
Inspection of documents
18.—(1)  A fishery officer may when he boards any fishing vessel —
(a)require the licensee, the owner, the master or any of the crew of any vessel to produce any log-book or other documents relating to the crew or any member thereof in their respective possession or control;
(b)require any master to produce a list of all persons on board his vessel, and take copies of the log-book or documents or of any part thereof;
(c)muster the crew of any vessel; and
(d)summon the master of any vessel to appear and give any explanation concerning the vessel or the crew or the log-book or documents produced or required to be produced.
(2)  Any person who, on being duly required by a fishery officer, fails without reasonable cause to produce to him any such log-book or document as he is required to produce under this rule, and who refuses to allow the log-book or document to be inspected or copied or impedes any master of the crew required under this rule, or refuses or neglects to give any explanation which he is required under this rule to give, or knowingly misleads or deceives a fishery officer, shall be guilty of an offence under these Rules.
Penalty
19.  Any person who contravenes rule 14 or 15 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100.
[G.N. Nos. S 166/71; S 249/83; S 274/83; S 130/87; S 189/91,S 270/91]
Singapore Statutes Online
© 2025 Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore,
Last updated 3 Feb 2025
Singapore Statutes Online is provided by the Legislation Division of the Attorney-General's Chambers of Singapore.