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
Earbsa dàtaEarbsa meadhanach

Air ùrachadh mu dheireadh An t-Ògmhios 15, 2026

Frèam riaghladh

  • §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)
Cead riatanach
Riatanach
Gunna-sleagha
Ceadaichte
Coigrich
Chan eil ceadaichte

An lagh, verbatim

Teacsaichean laghail

Na foillseachaidhean reachdail agus riaghailteach mionaideach a tha a' riaghladh slighe-biasd an seo, air an luaidh mar a chaidh am foillseachadh, le ceangal ri gach stòras oifigeil.

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

ENTùsail

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)

ENTùsail

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)

ENTùsail

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

ENTùsail

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

Cuin a ghabhas tu tumadh

Ràithean & cuingeachaidhean ùine

Ùineachan dùinte, fosgailte agus cuingichte tron bhliadhna. Daingneach an-còmhnaidh dùnaidhean gnè-sònraichte gu h-ionadail.

Chan eil dùnaidhean ràitheil air an clàradh — dearbhaich gu h-ionadail mus tum thu.

Cead iasgaich

Cead

Dè a dh'fheumas tu gus a bhith ceadaichte anns an uisge, dè a chosgas e, agus mar a gheibhear e.

Cead riatanachtro 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.

Faigh do chead

Fosgailte am portal oifigeil · police.gov.sg

Cead riatanach
Seòrsa
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).
Cosgais
unknown
Dligheachd
unknown
Mar a gheibhear e
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.
Ùghdarras
Singapore Police Force - Police Regulatory Department (Guns, Explosives and Weapons Division)
Portal ceadachais oifigeil · police.gov.sg

Uidheam & dòigh

Riaghailtean uidheamachd

Dè an uidheam a tha ceadaichte, mar a ghabhas a cleachdadh, agus na cumhaichean ceangailte.

Gunna-sleaghaCeadaichte

Cuingeachaidhean

  • 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.

Dè ghabhas tu

Crìochan glacaidh & gnèithean dìonta

Cuòtathan làitheil, meudachdan as lugha, agus gnèithean nach gabhar a-chaoidh.

Crìoch làitheil

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.

Cò a dh'fhaodar iasgach

Luchd-tadhail & luchd-còmhnaidh

Mar a tha na riaghailtean eadar-dhealaichte airson luchd-tadhail cèin agus luchd-còmhnaidh ionadail.

Luchd-tadhail cèin

Chan eil ceadaichte

Cead sònraichte riatanach

Riatanasan

  • 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.

Cuingeachaidhean

  • 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.

Luchd-còmhnaidh

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

Riatanasan

  • 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.

Càite air a' chladach

Sgìrean ceadaichte & toirmisgte

Sgìrean ainmichte a tha fosgailte no dùinte airson slighe-biasd. Faic an dealbh-iomlan air a' mhapa eadar-ghnìomhach.

Sgìrean ceadaichte

  • 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

Sgìrean toirmisgte

  • 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
Seall air mapa

Suidheachaidhean air an uisge

Suidheachaidhean beò

Snapshot mara agus sìde beò faisg air àite iomraidh cladaich ann an Singapore, o Open-Meteo. Bidh suidheachaidhean ag atharrachadh air feadh a' chladaich — làimhsich mar chomharra.

Mara & sìde beò faisg air Sisters' Islands Marine Park.

Suidheachaidhean

Cò ri fhaighneachd

Ùghdarrasan

Na buidhnean oifigeil a tha an urra ri iasgach agus ceadachadh.

  • 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

On a thàinig seo

Stòrasan

Bidh gach tagradh air an duilleag seo a' dol air ais gu aon de na h-iomraidhean sin.

  1. [01]

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

    Oifigeil
    police.gov.sgAir faighinn Ògm 15
  2. [02]

    SPF - Overview of Gun / Explosive / Weapon Licences

    Oifigeil
    police.gov.sgAir faighinn Ògm 15
  3. [03]

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

    Oifigeil
    nparks.gov.sgAir faighinn Ògm 15
  4. [04]

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

    Oifigeil
    nparks.gov.sgAir faighinn Ògm 15
  5. [05]

    Singapore Food Agency - Fisheries Act 1966 and subsidiary legislation

    Oifigeil
    sfa.gov.sgAir faighinn Ògm 15
  6. [06]

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

    Oifigeil
    sso.agc.gov.sgAir faighinn Ògm 15
  7. [07]

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

    Dàrna
    singaporelegaladvice.comAir faighinn Ògm 15
  8. [08]

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

    Dàrna
    fishingbooker.comAir faighinn Ògm 15
  9. [09]

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

    community
    swi-fishing.safariwisata.co.idAir faighinn Ògm 15
  10. [10]

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

    community
    harpune.infoAir faighinn Ògm 15

Notaichean rannsachaidh

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.

Fuirich ùrachadhInntrigeadh tràth

Thoir fios dhomh nuair a dh'atharraicheas riaghailtean Singapore

Cuiridh sinn post-d thugad nuair a thèid ràithean no riaghailtean Singapore ùrachadh nar cruinneachadh dàta.

Thoir fios dhomh mu

Gun spama — rabhaidhean atharrachaidh a-mhàin. Dì-chlàraich uair sam bith. Chan eil sinn a-riamh a' reic do phost-d.