Jurong Fishery Port is one of only two fishing ports in Singapore. Located at 35 Fishery Port Road in the west, it comes alive in the dead of night, operating daily except Mondays from midnight to around 6AM. While most of the city sleeps, the port buzzes with activity. Open to the public, it welcomes not just seafood suppliers but also individuals looking to purchase the freshest catch for personal consumption. All you need is your IC to exchange for a visitor pass, and you’re in.
Unlike Japan’s famous Tsukiji Market, this fishery port isn’t designed to attract tourists, at least not yet. There have been reports of a planned redevelopment to transform it into a tourist attraction, but until that happens, you’re free to visit and experience its raw and unpolished charm.
At first, I found the place a bit intimidating. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t there to buy seafood but to photograph. While some were welcoming, others greeted me with cold stares. Serious-looking men moved swiftly through the market, pulling heavy carts and occasionally shouting for people to clear the way—standing in their path was not an option unless you wanted to be knocked aside. Workers unloaded seafood from big containers into baskets, shovelled crushed ice to keep the catch fresh, and served a steady stream of customers, many of them restaurant owners and fishmongers from wet markets across Singapore.
I chose not to bring my camera for this visit and only shot with my iPhone 6s. All photos were taken in colour and later converted to black and white in Adobe Lightroom CC. Enjoy the images!
The wharf is out of bounds but you can see boats docked from behind the fences.
