Singapore's traditional offshore fishing platform kelong faces transformation

One of Singapore's last four traditional offshore fishing platforms, the "kelong," is facing the fate of being closed. The "kelong" was once a common sight in Singapore's waters and was mostly built of wood. However, with the decrease in fish stocks and the emergence of offshore aquaculture farms, their numbers have been continuously reducing.

According to a report by Singapore's "The Straits Times" on September 1, 76-year-old retired owner Timothy has decided to give up his "kelong" and nearby fish farm off Pulau Ubin. The Singapore Heritage Society has petitioned the local government to preserve this "kelong" for educational and research purposes. The local government has asked the society to appoint a consultant by the end of the year to study the restoration of the "kelong" and assess maintenance costs. Relevant departments are also looking for funders.

Timothy and his wife bought the "kelong" and the supporting fish farm near Pulau Ubin in 2004. However, the production cost is high and it is difficult to find buyers. Timothy estimates that he has lost about 2 million Singapore dollars in about 20 years of operation. The Singapore Food Agency said that "kelong" licenses cannot be transferred. Since 1965, no new licenses have been issued. At present, there are only four licensed "kelong" fish farms.

Zhou Ruizhi, a researcher at the East-West Center, a US think tank, said that since the 1820s, the "kelong" has been Singapore's main fishing method. It reached its peak in the 1950s. There were about 310 licensed "kelong" fish farms. At that time, the fish caught accounted for about 70% of Singapore's fish production.

The co-founder of Singapore's Marine Heritage Interest Group suggested considering multiple uses for the "kelong," such as environmental education, tourist docking, or a rest stop for marine sports, providing a model for sustainable economic development for offshore fish farms. At present, Singapore is discussing the transformation of traditional fish farms.