One of Singapore's 4 remaining kelongs drifting into history

Owner of E63 off Pulau Ubin clearing out after heritage society fails to find funding to keep it

- Ng Keng Gene Correspondent

One of Singapore's last kelongs is on its last legs, after an unsuccessful attempt to breathe new life into it by using it for education and research.

Kelong E63 - located off the coast of Pulau Ubin - had its last yearlong temporary occupation licence end on Aug 31. Owner Timothy Ng has been given a month-long extension to clear out the kelong and pass other fish farmers any equipment they wish to use.

Thereafter, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), that oversees the country's aquaculture sector, will demolish the kelong before the sea space is handed over to the Singapore Land Authority.

Prior to its closure, the National Heritage Board (NHB) extensively documented the kelong - an offshore palisade fish trap - and its accompanying floating fish farm, in recognition of the role of kelongs in Singapore's maritime heritage.

Kelongs were once a common sight in Singapore's waters - about 310 kelong licences were issued in 1952, for instance - until they started to die out in the 1960s because of declining fish stocks and, later, the advent of sea-based aquaculture farms in the 1980s.

After learning that Mr Ng was thinking of giving up his kelong, the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS) in March 2024 proposed to the authorities for it to be retained, possibly for education and research.

The society then had until end-2024 to work with consultants to study the feasibility of using the kelong as a community and education space, but it did not manage to secure funding, although one family office showed interest in operating the kelong.

An investment director at the family office, which requested not to be named due to business confidentiality, told The Sunday Times that the feasibility study was projected to cost up to $500,000. She said it was a substantial amount for an investor to pay, especially with no guarantee that the kelong would be allowed to operate following the study.