FISHY business at Nanyang Lake has NTU’s Anglers’ Club up in arms as they try to stop illegal fishing by members of the public.

The club, which uses the lake for fishing carnivals and club events, has seen a steady stream of outsiders coming to fish.

Only executive club and alumni members who hold approved permits are allowed to fish at the lake, which is near Hall 4.

The club has a catch-and-release system where fish caught are released back into the lake.

Mr Victor Chia, 22, president of the Angler’s Club, said that these poachers will usually fish late at night on weekdays or come in over the weekends. This happens despite signboards stating that non-members of the club are prohibited from fishing there.

The club wants something done as the problem has worsened. Chia has noticed a “slow but steady decline of fish” in the lake.

“The only asset that we have is the fish, some of which have been there for ages, some of them are rare, some we have to get from overseas and others are donated by friends of the club,” he said.

Every year, $2,000-worth of fish are put in the lake to replenish the numbers, funded in part by NTU student activities fund.

However, with poaching being carried out, the club will have to look for additional funding in order to maintain the number of fish for fishing carnivals.

Chia is worried that students will be deterred from joining the club as membership and competition fees would have to increase. Membership is at $3 per year currently.

For many members, it is also about “fishing rights” as they pay to use the lake and its resources. “If people are fishing freely, then it would send out the message that it’s pointless to pay for a club membership,” said Chia.

The club is looking for solutions to the problem.

Attempts by club members to confront poachers in the past have been met with hostile reactions, often resulting in scolding or shouting at members. They are not deterred despite repeated warnings by Campus Security.

 The Student Affairs Office (SAO) said they operate in accordance with the Public Utilities Board’s Reservoir Catchment Regulation, where people who fish at reservoirs are given warnings; they are only fined if caught multiple times.

The club was told by SAO that more evidence must be produced before something can be done.

SAO said they are working with the club to “devise better ways to deter unauthorised fishing”. They were unable to comment on current security measures and Campus Security could not get back to the Chronicle by press time.

An attempt to prevent illegal fishing by erecting bamboo barriers tied with lines in the lake failed as well. The poles were pulled out one night. 

“The damage has been accumulating over the years. Now is the time to do something,” Chia said.