Impose catch-and-release rule at reservoirs

I REFER to the report 'Okay to fish at 3 more reservoirs' (ST, Dec 15).

Not all anglers welcome the opening of these reservoirs for fishing.

As an avid angler, I have seen too many cases of people abusing our limited fishing resources.

The Kranji and Seletar reservoirs, which are already open for fishing, are now in a sad state due to their depleted stocks of fish.

This can be attributed to the immaturity of some anglers who use live bait to land a bigger catch, when this is clearly in breach of regulations.

I do not understand how it is possible for the authorities to open up three more reservoirs for fishing when there is still no proper monitoring at either Kranji or Seletar reservoirs.

Another concern is that with no bag limits imposed on anglers, the fish population will decline.

With MacRitchie and Upper Seletar reservoirs due to be open 24 hours a day, I am concerned that the stocks there will be unable to sustain such heavy fishing.

There are many anglers who would rather have tighter controls at existing reservoirs, as well as restocking programmes and bag limits.

A simple change of rule that allows for catch-and-release fishing only would ensure that the fish population remain sustainable.

After all, the Sport Fishing Association and Singapore Sports Council promote sport fishing, not meat hunting.

What is the point of promoting sport fishing if the three reservoirs are left barren once the meat hunters come to decimate the fish stocks there?

It will be sad if in the future, I bring my children to MacRitchie reservoir to look only at an empty reservoir and reminisce about how there used to be so many fish you could see them swimming from the bridge.

DANIEL CHEE EU LENG