Fisheries Country Profile: Singapore

Singapore is a city-state with a population of 5.70 million in 2019. The country has a total coastline length of 268 km and the total area of the exclusive economic zone is 744 km2. As a small country, Singapore has limited resources in terms of land, sea space, and workforce; thus, the country imports more than 90 % of its food.

The Singapore Food Agency is the national authority for the development and management of fisheries and aquaculture in the country. In 2021, the fish available for consumption was 21.8 kg/capita. In terms of total fishery production, 20 % was from capture fisheries and 80 % was from the small but thriving and increasingly important land-based and sea-based aquaculture industry. Inland capture fisheries are not applicable to Singapore.

Total fishery production of Singapore by quantity (MT)

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Total 5,549 5,179 7,249 7,011 6,989 7,347 8,161
Capture Fisheries 306 356 1,418 1,309 1,098 1,235 1,265
Marine Capture 306 356 1,418 1,309 1,309 1,235 1,265
Inland Capture
Aquaculture 5,243 4,823 5,831 5,702 5,891 6,112 6,896

Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2021

Total fishery production of Singapore by value (USD 1,000)

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Total 32,945 30,059 44,204 53,652 41,344 64,402 52,104
Capture Fisheries 1,963 2,248 9,000 9,076 7,655 8,608 9,348
Marine Capture 1,963 2,248 9,000 9,076 7,655 8,608 9,348
Inland Capture
Aquaculture 30,982 27,811 35,204 44,576 33,689 55,794 30,511

Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2021

Production of major species/groups of species from marine capture fisheries of Singapore by quantity (MT)

<td”>Snappers

Major species/group 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Natantia 6 5 218 254 220 276 275
Snappers 38 29 115 102 76 64 82
Rays, stingrays, mantas 12 19 84 56 63 46 58
Squids 15 8 72 74 51 62 62
Barracudas 4 4 69 25 12 16 31
Sea catfishes 14 17 63 80 54 58 48
Scads 4 37 60 82 52 68 47
Crabs 5 32 26 20 45 88 72

Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2021

Production of major species/groups of species from aquaculture of Singapore by quantity (MT)

Major species/group 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Milkfishes 1,215 1,358 1,571 2,020 2,094 2,210 2,358
Barramundi 840 831 1,248 844 851 731 956
Frogs 361 333 523 516 519 531 490
Groupers 336 288 508 550 498 298 238
Mullets 621 597 501 359 361 513 436
Bivalvia 361 434 405 397 353 527 906
Snakeheads 46 98 227 149 132 142 194
Tilapias 203 195 189 215 186 304 226
Snappers 302 193 141 120 118 126 116
Pompano 271 134 109 121 219 175 196

Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2021

Export and import of fishery products of Singapore by quantity (MT) and value (USD 1,000)

Year Export Import
Quantity (MT) Value (USD 1,000) Quantity (MT) Value (USD 1,000)
2021 41,050 299,109 201,570 1,107,327
2020 37,847 246,220 211,616 981,099
2019 42,439 316,012 204,748 1,126,942
2018 36,584 357,504 198,175 1,162,525
2017 39,738 342,992 199,087 1,096,665
2016 43,757 365,690 209,231 1,129,644
2015 44,219 376,654 207,868 1,093,000

Source: FAO Fishery and Aquaculture Information and Statistics Service