SpearfishingMap

Singapore

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Recreational spearfishing is heavily restricted and effectively impractical in Singapore. The primary legal obstacle is weapons law, not fisheries law: spearguns are classified as 'guns' under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA, in force from 1 July 2025, replacing the Arms and Explosives Act 1913), so possessing, importing or using one requires a gun licence from the Police Regulatory Department. Only rubber band-powered (band) spearguns may be licensed; pneumatic / compressed-air spearguns are prohibited outright. Separately, fishing is only permitted within NParks/PUB-designated fishing areas, and is banned in marine parks and nature reserves such as Sisters' Islands Marine Park; fishing outside designated areas is an offence carrying fines up to S$3,000. The combination means there is no readily accessible, lawful recreational spearfishing in Singapore's marine waters: anyone wishing to spearfish would need a gun licence for a band speargun and would still be barred from the protected and most coastal areas. Carrying a speargun in transit/luggage without authorisation can lead to prosecution.

Restricted
Confiança en les dadesConfiança mitjana

Última actualització Juny 15, 2026

Marc normatiu aplicable

  • §Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (Act 3 of 2021; commenced 1 July 2025) - classifies spearguns as 'guns'
  • §Arms and Explosives Act 1913 (former weapons regime replaced by GEWCA 2021)
  • §Fisheries Act 1966 and Fisheries (Fishing Gear) Rules (gear / fishing controls)
  • §Parks and Trees Act 2005 and NParks fishing regulations (designated fishing areas; marine parks and nature reserves)
Llicència obligatòria
Obligatori
Fusell
Permès
Estrangers
No permès

La llei, literalment

Textos legals

Les disposicions legals i reglamentàries exactes que regulen la pesca submarina aquí, citades tal com es publiquen, amb un enllaç a cada font oficial.

01Gun Licence FAQ, Q30Singapore · national

Type of spearguns allowed for spearfishing (GEWCA regulatory FAQ)

Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 - SPF / Police Regulatory Department GEWCA Regulatory Regime FAQ

ENOriginal

What type of spearguns are allowed for spearfishing? Only rubber band-powered spearguns are permitted. Spearguns operating by compressed air (pneumatic) or other means are prohibited.

02Definition of 'gun' (less conventional firearms)Singapore · national

Spearguns are 'guns' under GEWCA 2021 (secondary legal commentary)

Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (Act 3 of 2021)

ENOriginal

Less conventional firearms such as airguns, paint ball guns, electronic dart guns, tasers or spearguns, starting pistol used in sporting competitions [are included within the meaning of 'gun' under the Act]. ... For possessing a non-prohibited gun without authorisation: maximum imprisonment term of 36 months and a maximum fine of $5,000 for each fully assembled gun, up to a maximum total of $50,000.

03Park rules ('Do's and Don'ts')Singapore · national

Sisters' Islands Marine Park visitor rules - fishing and collection prohibited

NParks - Sisters' Islands Marine Park (managed under Parks and Trees Act regime)

ENOriginal

Do not camp, barbecue or fish. Do not collect or remove any plants, animals or shells from the park.

04Fishing rulesSingapore · national

Fishing restricted to designated areas; penalty

NParks - Fishing activity guidelines

ENOriginal

Fish only in designated fishing areas. ... You may be fined up to $3,000 if you are caught violating fishing regulations.

Quan podeu bussejar

Temporades i restriccions horàries

Períodes tancats, oberts i restringits al llarg de l'any. Confirmeu sempre localment els tancaments per espècie.

No s'han registrat tancaments estacionals — verifiqueu localment abans de bussejar.

Permís per pescar

Llicència

Què necessiteu per poder estar a l'aigua, quant costa i com obtenir-ho.

Llicència obligatòriaa través de Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)

Apply to the Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division) of the Singapore Police Force for a gun licence. Only band-powered spearguns are eligible.

Obteniu la vostra llicència

Obre el portal oficial · police.gov.sg

Llicència obligatòria
Tipus
Gun licence (possession/import) for a rubber band-powered speargun, issued under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021. Pneumatic spearguns cannot be licensed (prohibited).
Cost
unknown
Validesa
unknown
Com obtenir-la
Apply to the Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division) of the Singapore Police Force for a gun licence. Only band-powered spearguns are eligible.
Autoritat
Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)
Portal oficial de llicències · police.gov.sg

Equip i tècnica

Normes d'equipament

Quin equip és permès, com s'ha d'utilitzar i les condicions aplicables.

FusellPermès

Restriccions

  • Spearguns are classified as 'guns' under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 and require a gun licence to possess, import or use.
  • Only rubber band-powered (band/elastic) spearguns are permitted.
  • Pneumatic / compressed-air spearguns are prohibited outright.
  • Carrying a speargun in transit or in luggage without authorisation can lead to prosecution.
  • Net fishing and wire-mesh traps are prohibited in NParks-managed areas.

Speargun possession is governed by weapons law (GEWCA 2021, in force 1 July 2025), administered by the Singapore Police Force, not by fisheries law. Even with a licensed band speargun, the area restrictions on fishing (designated areas only; banned in marine parks/reserves) still apply, making lawful recreational spearfishing in marine waters largely impractical.

Què podeu capturar

Límits de captures i espècies protegides

Quotes diàries, mides mínimes i espècies que mai no es poden capturar.

Límit diari

unknown

NParks asks anglers to practise catch-and-release and to release juveniles and any endangered or threatened marine species. No spearfishing-specific bag or size limits were found in retrieved official sources.

Qui pot pescar

Visitants i residents

Com difereixen les normes per als visitants estrangers i els residents locals.

Visitants estrangers

No permès

Cal llicència especial

Requisits

  • Would require a Singapore gun licence for any band speargun, the same as for residents.
  • Import/transit of spearguns requires authorisation from the Police Regulatory Department under GEWCA 2021.

Restriccions

  • Bringing a speargun into Singapore (including in transit or in luggage) without a licence can lead to prosecution.
  • Pneumatic spearguns cannot be brought in or licensed at all.

Tourists/visitors are subject to the same weapons-licensing regime. In practice foreigners cannot freely spearfish; spearfishing community sources widely advise spearfishers to travel to Malaysia or Indonesia instead.

Residents

Gun licence (band speargun) under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021

Requisits

  • Apply to the Police Regulatory Department for a gun licence to possess/import a rubber band-powered speargun.
  • Fish only within NParks/PUB designated fishing areas (spearfishing not authorised by area designation alone).

No spearfishing-specific recreational licence exists; the controlling permit is the weapons (gun) licence. Citizens and PRs are subject to the same GEWCA regime.

On a la costa

Zones permeses i prohibides

Àrees nominades obertes o tancades per a la pesca submarina. Veieu el panorama complet al mapa interactiu.

Àrees permeses

  • NParks / PUB designated fishing areas (line fishing only)

    Recreational fishing in Singapore is permitted only in designated fishing areas managed by NParks and PUB. These are line/rod fishing zones - they do NOT authorise spearfishing, which additionally requires a gun licence for a band speargun. Commonly cited designated areas include Bedok Jetty (East Coast Park), Changi Beach Park, Pasir Ris Park, Sembawang Park, West Coast Park, Pulau Ubin and Woodlands Waterfront Park.

    Line/rod fishing only; spearfishing not authorised by area designation. Catch-and-release encouraged; juveniles and protected/endangered species must be released. Fishing outside designated areas is prohibited (fine up to S$3,000).

    nparks.gov.sg

Àrees prohibides

  • Sisters' Islands Marine Parkmarine park / marine protected area

    Singapore's first marine park (designated 2014, managed by NParks). Comprises Sisters' Islands and the western reefs of St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor. Fishing and removal/collection of any plants, animals or shells is prohibited.

    nparks.gov.sg
  • Coney Island (Pulau Serangoon)national park / nature area

    NParks-managed island park where fishing is prohibited (the whole island is off-limits to fishing per fishing guides citing NParks rules).

    fishingbooker.com
  • Nature reserves and non-designated waters (general)nature reserve / non-designated area

    Fishing (and therefore spearfishing) is prohibited everywhere except NParks/PUB designated fishing areas. This includes nature reserves and any area marked with 'No Fishing' signage.

    nparks.gov.sg
  • Sungei Buloh Wetland Reservenature reserve / wetland reserve

    NParks-managed wetland nature reserve on the north-west coast of Singapore (Kranji), part of the Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network. Fishing (and thus spearfishing) and collection of wildlife is prohibited; as a gazetted nature reserve, fishing offences can attract fines up to S$50,000.

    nparks.gov.sg
  • Chek Jawa Wetlands (Pulau Ubin)wetland / intertidal protected area

    About 100-ha intertidal wetland at the south-eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, comprising six ecosystems (sandy/rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves, coastal forest). NParks lists Chek Jawa among the no-fishing areas; collection or removal of marine life is an offence.

    pulau-ubin.nparks.gov.sg
  • Labrador Nature Reserve rocky shorenature reserve / rocky shore

    The 300 m natural rocky shore at Labrador Nature Reserve (southern mainland coast) is the last on Singapore's mainland and is protected; NParks lists Labrador's rocky shore among the no-fishing areas (note: line fishing is allowed elsewhere along the Labrador Park promenade/jetty, but not on the protected rocky shore).

    en.wikipedia.org
Veure al mapa

Condicions a l'aigua

Condicions en directe

Instantània marina i meteorològica en directe prop d'un punt de referència costaner de Singapore, de Open-Meteo. Les condicions varien al llarg de la costa — tracteu-ho com a indicatiu.

Marina i meteorologia en directe prop de Sisters' Islands Marine Park.

Condicions

A qui preguntar

Autoritats

Els organismes oficials responsables de la pesca i les llicències.

  • Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)

    weapons regulator (gun/speargun licensing)

    police.gov.sgSingapore Police Force, Police Regulatory Department

  • National Parks Board (NParks)

    parks / marine protected areas authority

    nparks.gov.sgNParks, Singapore

  • Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

    fisheries authority (administers Fisheries Act 1966)

    sfa.gov.sgSingapore Food Agency

D'on prové aquesta informació

Fonts

Cada afirmació d'aquesta pàgina es remunta a una d'aquestes referències.

  1. [01]

    SPF - FAQ for GEWCA Regulatory Regime (states only band spearguns permitted, pneumatic prohibited)

    Oficial
    police.gov.sgConsultat el Jun 15
  2. [02]

    SPF - Overview of Gun / Explosive / Weapon Licences

    Oficial
    police.gov.sgConsultat el Jun 15
  3. [03]

    NParks - Fishing activity guidelines (designated areas; S$3,000 fine; prohibited gear)

    Oficial
    nparks.gov.sgConsultat el Jun 15
  4. [04]

    NParks - Sisters' Islands Marine Park (no fishing; no collection)

    Oficial
    nparks.gov.sgConsultat el Jun 15
  5. [05]

    Singapore Food Agency - Fisheries Act 1966 and subsidiary legislation

    Oficial
    sfa.gov.sgConsultat el Jun 15
  6. [06]

    Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 - Singapore Statutes Online (primary law; automated access blocked)

    Oficial
    sso.agc.gov.sgConsultat el Jun 15
  7. [07]

    SingaporeLegalAdvice - Gun laws in Singapore (spearguns listed as 'guns'; penalties)

    Secundari
    singaporelegaladvice.comConsultat el Jun 15
  8. [08]

    FishingBooker - Fishing in Singapore guide (designated areas; Coney Island off-limits)

    Secundari
    fishingbooker.comConsultat el Jun 15
  9. [09]

    SWI Fishing - Is spearfishing legal in Singapore? (community/secondary; spearguns penalised)

    community
    swi-fishing.safariwisata.co.idConsultat el Jun 15
  10. [10]

    harpune.info - Worldwide spearfishing rules list (Singapore: illegal/restricted)

    community
    harpune.infoConsultat el Jun 15

Notes de l'investigador

Spearfishing in Singapore is governed primarily by WEAPONS law, not fisheries law. Under the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA, in force 1 July 2025, replacing the Arms and Explosives Act 1913), a speargun is a 'gun' and requires a Police Regulatory Department gun licence; only rubber band-powered spearguns can be licensed and pneumatic/compressed-air spearguns are prohibited (verbatim confirmed in the SPF GEWCA FAQ Q30). On top of this, recreational fishing is allowed only in NParks/PUB designated areas and is banned in marine parks (e.g. Sisters' Islands Marine Park) and nature reserves, so even a licensed band speargun gives no practical place to spearfish in protected coastal waters. CAVEAT ON PRIMARY TEXT: Singapore Statutes Online (sso.agc.gov.sg) blocks automated access (HTTP 403 / CloudFront), so the verbatim text of the GEWCA definition of 'gun' and of the Fisheries (Fishing Gear) Rules could not be retrieved directly; the GEWCA classification of spearguns and the penalty figures are sourced from an official SPF FAQ and reputable secondary legal commentary (SingaporeLegalAdvice) rather than the primary statute page. Licence cost/validity and any spearfishing-specific bag/size limits were not found in official sources and are marked unknown. Confidence is medium: the core legal conclusion (speargun = licensed gun; band only; pneumatic prohibited; fishing only in designated areas) is well supported by official SPF and NParks pages, but the primary statutory text was not directly retrievable.

Estigueu al diaAccés anticipat

Notifiqueu-me quan canviïn les normes de Singapore

Us enviarem un correu quan les temporades o normatives de Singapore s'actualitzin en el nostre conjunt de dades.

Notifiqueu-me sobre

Sense correu brossa — només alertes de canvis. Doneu-vos de baixa en qualsevol moment. Mai no venem el vostre correu.