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.
Last updated June 15, 2026
Governing framework
- §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)
- License required
- Required
- Speargun
- Allowed
- Foreigners
- Not allowed
The law, verbatim
Legal texts
The exact statutory and regulatory provisions that govern spearfishing here, quoted as published, with a link to each official source.
Type of spearguns allowed for spearfishing (GEWCA regulatory FAQ)
Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 - SPF / Police Regulatory Department GEWCA Regulatory Regime FAQ
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.
Spearguns are 'guns' under GEWCA 2021 (secondary legal commentary)
Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (Act 3 of 2021)
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.
Sisters' Islands Marine Park visitor rules - fishing and collection prohibited
NParks - Sisters' Islands Marine Park (managed under Parks and Trees Act regime)
Do not camp, barbecue or fish. Do not collect or remove any plants, animals or shells from the park.
Fishing restricted to designated areas; penalty
NParks - Fishing activity guidelines
Fish only in designated fishing areas. ... You may be fined up to $3,000 if you are caught violating fishing regulations.
When you can dive
Seasons & time restrictions
Closed, open and restricted periods across the year. Always confirm species-specific closures locally.
No seasonal closures recorded — verify locally before diving.
Permission to fish
License
What you need to be allowed in the water, what it costs, and how to get it.
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.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · police.gov.sg
- Type
- 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
- Validity
- unknown
- How to obtain
- 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.
- Authority
- Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)
Gear & technique
Equipment rules
What gear is permitted, how it may be used, and the conditions attached.
Restrictions
- 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.
What you may take
Catch limits & protected species
Daily quotas, minimum sizes, and species that must never be taken.
Daily limit
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.
Who may fish
Visitors & residents
How the rules differ for foreign visitors and local residents.
Foreign visitors
Not allowedSpecial license required
Requirements
- 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.
Restrictions
- 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
Requirements
- 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.
Where on the coast
Allowed & prohibited zones
Named areas that are open to or closed for spearfishing. See the full picture on the interactive map.
Allowed areas
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).
Prohibited areas
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Conditions on the water
Live conditions
Live marine and weather snapshot near a coastal reference point in Singapore, from Open-Meteo. Conditions vary along the coast — treat as indicative.
Live marine & weather near Sisters' Islands Marine Park.
Who to ask
Authorities
The official bodies responsible for fisheries and licensing.
Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)
weapons regulator (gun/speargun licensing)
police.gov.sgSingapore Police Force, Police Regulatory DepartmentNational Parks Board (NParks)
parks / marine protected areas authority
nparks.gov.sgNParks, SingaporeSingapore Food Agency (SFA)
fisheries authority (administers Fisheries Act 1966)
sfa.gov.sgSingapore Food Agency
Where this comes from
Sources
Every claim on this page traces back to one of these references.
- [01]
SPF - FAQ for GEWCA Regulatory Regime (states only band spearguns permitted, pneumatic prohibited)
Officialpolice.gov.sgAccessed Jun 15 - [02]
SPF - Overview of Gun / Explosive / Weapon Licences
Officialpolice.gov.sgAccessed Jun 15 - [03]
NParks - Fishing activity guidelines (designated areas; S$3,000 fine; prohibited gear)
Officialnparks.gov.sgAccessed Jun 15 - [04]
NParks - Sisters' Islands Marine Park (no fishing; no collection)
Officialnparks.gov.sgAccessed Jun 15 - [05]
Singapore Food Agency - Fisheries Act 1966 and subsidiary legislation
Officialsfa.gov.sgAccessed Jun 15 - [06]
Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 - Singapore Statutes Online (primary law; automated access blocked)
Officialsso.agc.gov.sgAccessed Jun 15 - [07]
SingaporeLegalAdvice - Gun laws in Singapore (spearguns listed as 'guns'; penalties)
Secondarysingaporelegaladvice.comAccessed Jun 15 - [08]
FishingBooker - Fishing in Singapore guide (designated areas; Coney Island off-limits)
Secondaryfishingbooker.comAccessed Jun 15 - [09]
SWI Fishing - Is spearfishing legal in Singapore? (community/secondary; spearguns penalised)
communityswi-fishing.safariwisata.co.idAccessed Jun 15 - [10]
harpune.info - Worldwide spearfishing rules list (Singapore: illegal/restricted)
communityharpune.infoAccessed Jun 15
Researcher notes
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.
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