Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Fishing Vessels Caught Trespassing Waters Off Pulau Tekong in the Last Five Years by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Miss Cheng Li Hui : To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the number of fishing vessels caught trespassing the waters off Pulau Tekong over the last five years; (b) what measures are in place to prevent such trespassing and whether they are sufficient; and (c) how are trespassers being dealt with.

Answer:

1. From 2013 to 2017, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) detected an average of 34 vessels each year making illegal or unauthorised entry into the waters off Pulau Tekong for fishing activities.

2. Parts of the waters around Pulau Tekong are designated as Working Areas by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) due to reclamation work. Unauthorised entry into Working Areas is an offence under the MPA Act. The punishment is a fine of up to $5,000, and in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine of up to $500 for every day which the offence continues.

3. Some of the vessels detected included cases of unlawful entry into Singapore by foreigners. These persons were arrested under the Immigration Act. The punishment is imprisonment of up to six months, and a minimum of three stokes of the cane, or a fine of up to $6,000 in lieu of caning.

4. PCG has installed land- and sea-based barriers to protect our maritime borders and coastline. At Pulau Tekong, PCG has deployed floating sea barriers to prevent vessels from entering the designated Working Area and approaching the shoreline. PCG also deploys sensors such as radars and cameras to monitor our waters. This is complemented by regular PCG patrols to detect and interdict intrusions and illegal activities.