Jurong Fishing Port and Central Fish Market Complex opens

In April 1966, the government revealed the construction of a new fishing port and wholesale market in Jurong as part of a holistic plan to modernise Singapore’s fishing industry.^[1] Due to its strategic location between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, Singapore was poised to become a great fishing hub by leveraging on offshore and deep-sea fishing.^[2] However, the reality then was that the island's fishermen caught only 20 percent of the local population's fish needs.^[3] To remedy this situation, the government introduced a new Fisheries Bill in April 1966 to help make Singapore self-sufficient in fish.^[4] The existing facilities for fish-landing, clearance and distribution were at Telok Ayer wharf, which also housed the Fisheries Port Office. The fish hauled in by fishing vessels were auctioned off at two markets located in the city area: the Ellenborough Market on Ellenborough Street and the Clyde Terrace Market on Beach Road.^[5]

The first stage of the new S$3.5 million complex in Jurong was completed in mid-1967. It spanned 11 out of the 39-acres plot (about 157,827 square metres) on the west bank of Sungei Jurong that was earmarked for the project.^[6] However, the opening of the port and market was delayed due to resistance from the fish auctioneers at the Ellenborough Street and Beach Road markets towards occupying the new facility. They agreed to move only after a fire had gutted the Ellenborough Market in January 1968. The next stage of construction then began in which new offices and more market spaces were added.^[7]  Finally, on 26 February 1969,  the Jurong Fishing  Port and Central Fish Market  began operations.^[8]  On the same day,  the  Fisheries  Office at  Telok Ayer closed and relocated  to Jurong.^[9]

The new port and central market began its first night of operations amid the sounds of thunderous fire crackers. With a centralised fish auctioning system in place, bargain hunters could compare prices and snag a cheaper catch. Although congestion and noise were prevalent, there was no disorder as transactions were supervised by the Primary Production Department. The electrifying atmosphere, along with thousands of dollars exchanging hands, outclassed any nightlife scene in Singapore.^[10]

References
1. A law to promote deep sea fisheries in S’pore. (1966, April 22). The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1968, May 15). Debate on President's address (Vol. 27, cols. 297–298). Retrieved August 2, 2013, from Parliament of Singapore website: http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00053382-ZZ&currentPubID=00069186-ZZ&topicKey=00069186-ZZ.00053382-ZZ_1%2Bid005_19680515_S0005_T00061-president-address%2B
2. The Straits Times, 22 Apr 1966, p. 4; Govt plans a fishing port. (1966, October 29). The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Worth its weight in gold – this great new fishing line. (1967, July 9). The Straits Times, p. 11. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore. (c2012). Fisheries Act, p. 11. Retrieved July 29, 2013, from AVA website: http://www.ava.gov.sg; The Straits Times, 9 Jul 1967, p. 11.
5. Foreign Fishery Developments. (1976, February). Marine Fisheries Review, 38(2), 32. Retrieved August 1, 2013, from http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/mfr382/mfr382.pdf; Governor hears fish merchants’ petition. (1951, April 21). The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. The Straits Times, 9 Jul 1967, p. 11.
7. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1968, December 19). Budget, National Development Division (Vol. 28, cols. 631–632, 646). Retrieved August 2, 2013, from Parliament of Singapore website: http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00053739-ZZ&currentPubID=00069202-ZZ&topicKey=00069202-ZZ.00053739-ZZ_1%2Bid011_19681219_S0003_T00091-budget%2B
8. Foreign Fishery Developments, Feb 1976, p. 32.
9. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1970, March 25). Budget, Ministry of Law and National Development (Vol. 29, col. 1079). Retrieved August 2, 2013, from Parliament of Singapore website: http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00054215-ZZ&currentPubID=00069222-ZZ&topicKey=00069222-ZZ.00054215-ZZ_1%2Bid004_19700325_S0002_T00071-budget%2B#
10. Siow, I. (1969, February 27). ‘Nightlife’ at the hub of our fish mart.The Straits Times, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.