RECREATIONAL fishing, or angling, is a healthy pastime.
It connects one with the great outdoors and helps one to understand the environment, such as fish behaviour and habitat, atmospheric pressure, and time and tide effects on fish.
It is not only therapeutic and stress relieving, but is also a sport where people from all walks of life can participate, unlike golf, which is usually for the upper sector of society.
In most developed economies, recreational fishing is an industry in itself.
Singapore, being a developed economy, would do well to develop the sport, encourage participation and open up more areas for fishing ("Hooked: More illegal fishermen"; Tuesday).
The angling industry can provide jobs, such as fishing guides and mechanics or technicians for the service and repair of boats and outboard motors. Those who are more enterprising can start small businesses selling fishing tackle or boat rental services.
In short, angling can be an industry in Singapore.
We are a small island-nation surrounded by water and we have 17 reservoirs.
Yet, local anglers find it hard to fish, with many areas out of bounds.
The authorities should look into making available more areas and reservoirs for fishing, and allow the use of small fishing boats in reservoirs.
Administrative processes such as fishing licences, catch limits, fish limits, and catch and release policies can be looked into.
The Government is emphasising sports and sports-related industries. Recreational fishing is one of them.
Robert Lim Chuan Hock
