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  Today Online 9 Jun 07
Net-fishing operator not let off the hook
Bottle Tree Park shop had no licence, and did not follow AVA guidelines
Letter from Goh Shih Yong AVA

Today Online 8 Jun 07
Are we breeding barbarians?
We must not condone the cruel act of fishing for fun
Letter from Dion van der Grijp

Today Online 8 Jun 07
Seen cruelty to animals? Tell SPCA
Letter from Deirdre Moss Executive Officer,
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

Today Online 6 Jun 07
When fishing for fun can be cruel
Yishun pond guppies killed in unwitting play
Letter from Yim Tat Chuen

Last Sunday, I took my family to the newly-opened Bottle Tree Park at Yishun Ave 1. One of its key attractions is a shallow pond where, for a fee, the operators provide fishing nets and a container for children to scoop up as many guppies as they could.

We were horrified to see a group of three children — the eldest was at least 13 years old — filling a grossly overcrowded container with fish. Half the fish in the container were already dead or gasping for air and there was a large pile of dead fish lying beside the container.

Despite this, the kids went on hunting for even more fish in a pond that already had numerous dead fish floating on the surface.

We thought this group's behaviour was an isolated incident but when we looked around the pond, we found that just about every other child there was doing the same thing.

The hygiene conditions were also highly suspect as people were walking around the pond and getting into the water without washing their feet.

To us, it was such an ugly and cruel sight witnessing an activity that promotes callousness, selfishness and greed.

The kids, with parents in tow, obviously enjoyed the thrill of catching as many fish as they could, never mind if most of the fish died or the needless suffering it caused.

The parents should have been mindful of what kind of message such activities send to their children. The operators of the fishpond, while they may have a right to run their business, also have a responsibility to set rules that prevent blatant abuse and cruelty to living creatures.

Today Online 8 Jun 07
Seen cruelty to animals? Tell SPCA
Letter from Deirdre Moss Executive Officer,
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

I REFER to the letter, "When fishing for fun can be cruel" by Mr Yim Tat Chuen (June 6), and would like to thank the writer for voicing his concerns after witnessing fish being abused at the Bottle Tree Park in Yishun Avenue 1.

The Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has informed the SPCA that they have looked into this matter and stopped the activity.

The SPCA strongly objects to such cruel treatment of animals and agrees with the writer that such attractions — where children and adults alike treat animals as playthings rather than living creatures — should not be encouraged.

If you witness any case of animal cruelty, please report it to the SPCA at 6287 5355. Although the SPCA does not have legal powers, we work closely with the AVA and the Police in stopping animal abuse, and can bring it to their attention.

Please visit the SPCA website at www.spca.org.sg for more information.

Today Online 8 Jun 07
Are we breeding barbarians?
We must not condone the cruel act of fishing for fun
Letter from Dion van der Grijp

I WAS shocked to read the article "When fishing for fun can be cruel" (June 6).

Staging such senseless and cruel "entertainment" is unacceptable and has no place in any society that claims to be civilised. What transpired is barbaric on the part of the children and doubly so on the part of the parents. It cannot be excused.

Since children are not always aware of the consequences of their actions, it is the parents' primary responsibility to ensure that their children are raised to have a sound moral basis.

And here one of the fundamental guiding principles must be to have reverence for life — all life.

If this kind of barbaric act is condoned, what kind of society are we to expect in future?

We must constantly bear in mind that the children of today are the adults who will be moulding the society of tomorrow.

It would be blatantly unwise to assume glibly that "everything will turn out all right". The path of least resistance more often than not leads to moral downfall.

I trust the authorities will investigate the incident and put a stop to such behaviour. It has no place in our society.

Today Online 9 Jun 07
Net-fishing operator not let off the hook
Bottle Tree Park shop had no licence, and did not follow AVA guidelines
Letter from Goh Shih Yong
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
for Chief Executive Officer Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)
Ministry of National Development

I REFER to the letter, "When fishing for fun can be cruel", by Mr Yim Tat Chuen (June 6).

To ensure that animal welfare is not compromised, an operator of net-fishing facilities like the one at Bottle Tree Park is required to obtain a licence from the AVA. These operators must comply with licensing conditions that safeguard animal welfare.
These conditions include the following:
• A time limit for catching fish, as well as a limit to the number of children fishing at any one time, depending on the set up and the size of the facility, should be imposed.
• Proper supervision should be provided at all times to ensure that the fish are not ill-treated.
• The fish that are to be taken home by participants should be packed in plastic bags with compressed oxygen, and the participants should be informed how long the air will last.
• Educational materials on the proper management and care of the fish should also be provided.

As the net-fishing facility at the Bottle Tree Park did not have a licence from the AVA, we have asked the operator to stop net-fishing activities until the required licence is obtained and the AVA's licensing conditions are complied with.

The AVA will also take action against the operator for running the net-fishing facility without a licence.

We thank Mr Yim for his feedback.
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