wild shores of singapore

Other shore surveys in Jun 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:21:33 +0000

Rui Quan Oh covered the most ground in the month, checking up on Admiralty, Sungei Buloh, Pasir Ris, Marina East and together with Zen Xuan He, Pulau Ubin. They see all the amazing wildlife that regular shore survey team miss. From owls to mousedeer, snakes and skinks, frogs and weird and beautiful insects. And extortionate cats attempting to intimidate snacks out of innocent passersby.

The rest of the team cover Changi and East Coast PCN.

Marcus, Richard and Tammy made separate trips to Changi. The shore seems to still be very much alive! On Ball flowery soft corals, they saw the Ghost brittle star and White snapping shrimps that live only in the soft coral. They also saw the Big-head seagrass octopus, some sheltering with their eggs. The stronghold of the Tiger anemone, good to know it's still on the shore. There were also sea fans and lots of nudibranchs, sea hares and slugs of all kinds.

Good to know that they saw a variety of sea stars at Changi! Many young ones too, which suggests the shores are a good nursery for baby sea stars. Seems they didn't see any Knobblies, maybe next time?

Recently, I sensed that we have been seeing much fewer Noble volutes that in the past. So we are now going to document every live Noble volute that we see. Marcus, Richard and Tammy saw some on Changi, from small ones to large ones. This large beautiful snail is restricted to our part of the world, in particular, Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. We have a duty to protect them. Hopefully, our sightings will help encourage further study into whether the populations on our shores are okay.

Richard Kuah is the only team member who regularly and faithfully checks up on Punggol shores, which remains alive! This narrow strip of rocky shore still has healthy Spoon seagrass, while the boulders nearby are still coated with colourful sponges and other encrusting animals. Which are eaten by nudibranchs. He even saw a small octopus!

Jayden Kang checked out the seagrass meadows and coral reef that have settled naturally on the artificial shore in front of the East Coast PCN. A wide variety of seagrass are still there, and seem healthy. The corals also seem to have recovered from the impact of the 2024 Pasir Panjang oil spill and mass coral bleaching. The large patch of Branching montipora looks pristine! They saw a seahorse! And some other reef life too.

Photos by the team

Richard Kuah checked up on Punggol on 4 Jun

Rui Quan Oh checked out Marina East on 6 Jun

Rui Quan Oh and Zen Xuan He visited Pulau Ubin on 13-14 Jun 2026

Zen Xuan He

Rui Quan Oh

Richard Kuah checked out Changi on 15 Jun 2026

Marcus Ng checked up on Changi Point on 16 Jun

Tammy Lim visited Changi on 19 Jun 2026

Jayden Kang checked out the corals at East Coast PCN on 19 Jun

Rui Quan Oh checked out Admiralty Park on 23 Jun

Rui Quan Oh checked out Sungei Buloh on 27 Jun

Rui Quan Oh checked out Pasir Ris on 29 Jun

Responses to preparatory work for Long Island

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:20:27 +0000

The Preparatory works for Long Island will involve removal of seabed obstructions, construction of temporary sand bunds and sand infilling. Phase 1 will begin end-2026, while Phase 2 will take place after the end of the SEA Games 2029. East Coast shores are alive with sea turtles, fish and corals and seagrasses have settled naturally on the artificial lagoons and sea walls.

Ang Qing reports that scientists, nature groups and anglers have raised concerns about potential blind spots. Some stakeholders shared concerns about the speed of the planning process. They were surprised by the announcement, as authorities had previously stated that technical studies for the multi-decade project would only conclude around 2029.

Ang Qing says "the four-week public feedback window on the study that ends on July 28 will be a major test of process. Time will tell how much of a difference community feedback can actually make when a mega-project’s timeline appears to be set in stone."

Share your feedback here https://form.gov.sg/675fc8ff28a3ca9ebd83c21b

Media articles and press releases on the Preparatory works for Long Island including EIA

Other responses include:

Lester Tan, chair of the Nature Society Singapore’s Marine Conservation Group, pointed out the absence of specific assessments for vulnerable coastal horseshoe crabs that nest along East Coast Park.

“Early involvement of nature groups in scoping the study and developing mitigation measures would have been highly beneficial in surfacing blind spots before a timeline for the works was set,” he said.

Echoing this, Muhammad Nasry Abdul Nasir, executive director of Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, questioned what he felt was the rushed nature of the engagement for the works, given the many unanswered questions from the community.

Why conservationists are concerned about Singapore’s Long Island mega climate project
Qing Ang Straits Times Green Pulse 7 Jul 2026

As sea levels rise, how does a land-scarce island nation protect its shores without compromising nature?

Singapore announced on June 30 that it will begin work on another massive engineering project at the end of 2026 that is designed to help the Republic weather climate change. Tentatively dubbed Long Island, the reclamation will create roughly 800ha of land off East Coast Park to shield the low-lying nation from rising sea levels while creating space for development.

The works will take place in two phases so part of the waters can still be used for recreation.

An environmental study commissioned by the Government deemed that the overall impact of the project would be minor. However, scientists, nature groups and anglers have raised concerns about potential blind spots.

Some stakeholders I spoke with after the two-phase works were revealed shared concerns about the speed of the planning process. They were surprised by the announcement, as authorities had previously stated that technical studies for the multi-decade project would only conclude around 2029.

While the East Coast sits on land reclaimed up until the 1980s, corals, seagrass and mangroves have naturally returned to its shores over the decades. This organic recovery has sparked calls from naturalists to ensure that marine life can continue to thrive alongside the Long Island development.

Today, this stretch has even become a nesting ground for globally critically endangered hawksbill turtles, which are being studied by researchers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Given the small population of Singapore’s hawksbills, NTU research fellow Lyndsey Tanabe called for the study to assess the shallow coastal waters where female turtles rest, the exact areas where works are expected to begin.

During my visit to fishing hotspot Bedok Jetty on June 30, anglers shared their concerns about a rich diversity of local fish that the current environmental report does not appear to fully consider. While anglers will still be allowed to use nearshore fishing areas and Bedok Jetty, the report anticipated that works could impact fish and reduce catch rates.

Lin Jiayuan is a student who has fished at Bedok Jetty since 2007. He noted that the report omitted key sightings at the jetty, including a globally critically endangered shovelnose ray caught in 2022.

Lin has authored more than 25 biodiversity records published by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. He and his friends showed me 40 different species of fish they had caught in just four hours at Bedok Jetty.

“It’s a shame to let this iconic landmark of marine biodiversity go without documenting whatever it has,” shared fellow fishing hobbyist Tan Yen Yi, 32, a bird scientist at the museum.

With more coastal projects in the pipeline to protect Singapore’s shores from rising sea levels, how the Republic navigates these environmental trade-offs will set an important precedent.

The four-week public feedback window on the study that ends on July 28 will be a major test of process. Time will tell how much of a difference community feedback can actually make when a mega-project’s timeline appears to be set in stone.

Anglers, researchers race to document East Coast fish species ahead of Long Island works
As preparatory works for Singapore's Long Island coastal protection project draw closer, fishing enthusiasts are working to record species that may one day become harder to find.
Natalie Ong and Marcel Pereira Channel NewsAsia 06 Jul 2026 11:24AM

SINGAPORE: Stretching far into the waters off Singapore's East Coast, Bedok Jetty has long been a popular spot for anglers.

For some fishing enthusiasts, each visit is also an opportunity to document the country's marine biodiversity.

With preparatory works for the Long Island project set to begin in waters west of the jetty by the end of 2026, some are racing to record the fish species found there before the coastline changes.

The upcoming works are the first step in Singapore's long-term coastal protection plans against rising sea levels and will be carried out in phases. A second phase is planned for waters east of the jetty after the 2029 SEA Games, which will be held in Singapore.

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Nanyang Technological University Bioengineering undergraduate Lin Jiayuan is among a small group of anglers helping to document fish species.

He visits the jetty at least twice a month, and rather than targeting large food fish, he searches for those that are rarely recorded in Singapore's waters.

When he catches something significant, the 24-year-old shares it with researchers at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for identification and preservation.

Over the years, Mr Lin has helped document at least 15 fish species new to Singapore's waters, of which seven were recorded at Bedok Jetty, adding to the country's biodiversity records.

With months to go before preparatory works begin, he said there is "definitely a sense of urgency" because many of the species found there inhabit murkier waters, making them difficult for divers and people exploring intertidal areas to spot.

One species Mr Lin hopes to document is the demon stinger, a rare relative of the stonefish that uses its free pectoral fin rays to "walk" along the seabed.

“This is probably the easiest place you can catch them in Singapore. Not saying they are common – they are very rare,” he added.

Even after works begin, Mr Lin intends to continue visiting the area.

"Personally, I will still fish here. I will observe what the changes are," he said.

ADDING TO SINGAPORE'S BIODIVERSITY RECORDS

Singapore has recorded about 700 to 800 fish species across its marine and freshwater habitats, according to Dr Tan Heok Hui, LKCNHM's senior collection manager of fishes.

Dr Tan described documenting Singapore's biodiversity as "a continual process".

"With proper documentation, you only realise what you've lost or what you may lose," he said.

The museum also receives records from anglers such as Mr Lin and other members of the public, which are verified by experts before being added to Singapore's biodiversity records.

Such specimens become part of the museum's collections.

NEW STUDY COULD TRACK CHANGES TO FISH COMMUNITIES

Separately, the National Parks Board (NParks) is discussing a potential study with marine fish researchers from local institutes of higher learning to better understand fish communities along reclaimed shorelines, such as along the East Coast.

Sources say the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and NUS are involved.

Replying to CNA’s queries, NParks said the study was first conceptualised in 2025 to understand how these environments change over time.

It will also help inform the design and management of future nearshore fish habitats that support both biodiversity and community use.

NParks' group director of the National Biodiversity Centre, Dr Karenne Tun, said the findings are expected to further inform the Long Island project and deepen understanding of fish communities along East Coast Park.

Associate Professor Jeffrey Kwik, a fish biologist at SIT, said no comprehensive survey has covered the entire East Coast shoreline in recent years.

"While there have been historically a lot of studies, you know, here and there, a full study of the entire stretch (along East Coast) has actually not been done enough, and definitely not in this current time, more recent times along the whole stretch."

"There'll be a lot of surveys, and these surveys will be done … over time, so that we understand any seasonal patterns in the size of the fishes, the species of fishes, and along the entire shoreline, adjacent to Bedok Jetty," he added.

He said such research would improve understanding of how fish use different coastal habitats and could contribute to environmental management and monitoring plans in the area.

The study is expected to start just before the preparatory works begin.

Govt study says Long Island works will have minor impact on environment
Ang Qing Straits Times Jun 30, 2026, 10:00 PM

SINGAPORE - Preparatory works for the reclamation of Long Island off East Coast Park are predicted to have an overall minor impact on the surrounding environment, though some nature groups and scientists worry about possible “blind spots”.

Released on June 30, the 557-page environmental impact assessment (EIA) was commissioned by the National Parks Board (NParks) on behalf of the Housing Board.

It assesses the impact of the two-phase works to prepare for the reclamation of about 800ha of land – roughly twice the size of Marina Bay – from Tanah Merah to Marina East, centring around the popular Bedok Jetty.

The works that involve removing seabed obstruction and sand infilling are slated to begin from end-2026.

The report, prepared by consultancy DHI Water and Environment based on surveys conducted between June 2025 and February 2026, found works would yield minor negative impacts on the environment.

The majority of coral and seagrass areas outside the project’s footprint, as well as mangroves, intertidal fauna and most marine fauna, are expected to remain largely unaffected, HDB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a statement.

However, the works could impede globally critically endangered hawksbill turtles from reaching nesting sites along East Coast Park, as well as disorient hatchlings, according to the report.

The report deemed this impact minor, noting that sections of the shoreline will remain available for nesting alongside ongoing egg relocation efforts by NParks.

Nanyang Technological University sea turtle biologist Lyndsey Tanabe acknowledged the need for coastal protection, but stressed that Singapore’s hawksbill turtle population is small, making every individual critical to the species’ survival.

“While the environmental study identifies disturbance to nesting beaches as a concern, it is equally important to assess impacts to inter-nesting habitat in the shallow coastal waters where female turtles rest between clutches (of eggs),” she pointed out.

The research fellow welcomed clarifications on additional protective measures, and said she looks forward to working constructively with the project team.

Angler Lin Jiayuan, a 24-year-old student who has fished at Bedok Jetty since 2007, noted the report omitted key records at the jetty, such as a 2022 sighting of the globally critically endangered shovelnose ray.

He has observed more than 150 fish species in the sediment-laden waters of the site over the past eight years.

“It’s a shame to let this iconic landmark of marine biodiversity go without documenting whatever it has,” added fellow fishing hobbyist Tan Yen Yi, 32, who is a bird scientist by training.

The pair and their friends caught 40 species within four hours on June 30. These included the imposter trevally, a species newly recorded in Singapore at Bedok Jetty in 2022.

Lester Tan, chair of the Nature Society Singapore’s Marine Conservation Group, pointed out the absence of specific assessments for vulnerable coastal horseshoe crabs that nest along East Coast Park.

Tan, who also sits on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Horseshoe Crab Species Specialist Group, said he was surprised by the scale of the preparatory works.

“Early involvement of nature groups in scoping the study and developing mitigation measures would have been highly beneficial in surfacing blind spots before a timeline for the works was set,” he said.

Echoing this, Muhammad Nasry Abdul Nasir, executive director of Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, questioned what he felt was the rushed nature of the engagement for the works, given the many unanswered questions from the community.

The environmental study report is open for public feedback at this website for four weeks from June 30.

HDB said mitigation measures will be implemented to minimise indirect impacts to surrounding habitats. These include deploying temporary containment bunds and silt screens to control sediment plumes.

A dedicated Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan will also be put in place to track conditions and manage potential effects on the surrounding marine environment, including seagrass beds.

Associate professor Peter Todd from the National University of Singapore’s Department of Biological Sciences lauded the monitoring efforts for spanning the duration of the preparatory works and beyond.

“Given the scale of the project, some impacts are inevitable, but it seems that substantial efforts are being made to mitigate these,” he said.

Todd, who studies the use of artificial structures to bring back marine life, added that Long Island presents opportunities to create new marine habitats for corals and mangroves.

However, he noted that combining natural elements into hard-engineered structures, also known as “hybrid shorelines”, remains a new and challenging field.

HDB and URA said they will thoroughly evaluate the feedback and incorporate suitable suggestions before finalising mitigation measures.

See East Coast shores for yourself!

It's fun and easy to explore these shores. More details in East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family.

Return to Buran bravely

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:30:00 +0000

Terumbu Buran is surrounded by strong currents. The last time we surveyed was in 2010, and I was so traumatised by landing and departure that I refused to ever go again.

16 years later, Kok Sheng persuaded a few of us to return. I was still too scared to join them - the photo of them landing today still frightens me. But they saw corals hard and soft, a lot of corallimorphs and the usual marine life common on our rocky shores. Here's a compilation of their sightings.

This tiny C-shaped terumbu that lies just at the doorstep of Sentosa Cove. A sliver of rocks stick out above the water, with most of the shore submerged.

All our shores, no matter how barren they might look from afar, have life! The team were visited by a Great billed heron. The Marine spider which breathes air and can only forage at low tide, is suprisingly found on all the shores we survey. The team saw various fishes, the usual snails, crabs and colourful marine life seen on our southern rocky shores. They also saw a large shark cruising by, no photos unfortunately.

There were a lot of corallimorphs of various kinds. As well as Giant carpet anemones, some with 'Nemo' and anemone shrimps! There were also many Frilly anemones and a Wriggly reef anemone was also seen.

There are not a lot of hard corals on the shore. The team saw the usual boulder shaped corals commonly seen. As well as common disk-shaped and branching corals too. They also saw a small cluster of bright orange Cave corals that grow in dark places.

There were also some Leathery soft corals, zoanthids of various kinds and feathery soft corals and hydroids.

It will be a while before we revisit this rather treacherous shore. So we hope it stays safe until then.

Photos by the team

Loh Kok Sheng

Che Cheng Neo

Rui Quan Oh

Richard Kuah

Tommy Tan

Others on this survey: Ian Mun, Yan Le Su, Anya

Long tape seagrasses at Sentosa Palawan

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:16:00 +0000

There is a patch of long Tape seagrass growing at Sentosa Palawan! A nice surprise to see on an artificial beach and 'islet' facing the busy port! Sentosa is indeed a precious refuge for seagrasses and rare mangrove trees.

Over the weekend, the survey team and I also checked out the Great Sentosa exhibition at Vivocity. Once completed, Greater Sentosa is projected to attract about double the current 17 million visitors a year. I do hope our marine life will be given a chance to be a part of this Greater Sentosa. So hopefully it won't come to a point where we can only see Sentosa's rare plants and animals in a glass jar.

More of my thoughts on Greater Sentosa at the end of this post. Which I have submitted as my feedback to the Greater Sentosa masterplan. Submit your feedback too here https://form.gov.sg/6a44c40969c66ca0ff78bbc6

I saw the long Tape seagrass in the narrow channel that remained flooded at low tide, between the main island and the islet. I surveyed while the rest of the team checked out Terumbu Buran.

The patch was not extensive or very dense, but it just warms my heart to see long Tape seagrass. I couldn't see any that were flowering though.

The Sentosa Palawan seagrass is a pale shadow, but reminds me the vast beds of Tape seagrass at Pulau Semakau that grew in a kind of shallow lagoon between the high shore, and the reef edge. Since the 2010s, all the Tape seagrasses at Pulau Semakau, Cyrene and other southern shores got cropped and never recovered since.

Surprisingly, the only Tape seagrass that remain long today are mostly found on artificial shores: Seringat Kias, East Coast Park B and PCN, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Long Tape seagrass also remain at Sentosa Tg Rimau (probably the largest meadow of long Tape seagrasses that remain today), as well as at Labrador. These seem quite resilient and survived the 2024 Pasir Panjang Oil Spill!

Other than Tape seagrass, I didn't see much else at Palawan. There were some fishes swimming among the seagrasses. On the sandy shore, the usual signs of Sand bubbler crabs, Ghost crab, and lots of Bazillion snails.

What is the fate of Sentosa shores?

Sentosa Tg Rimau is among our last natural cliffs with rare trees, reefs and probably the largest meadow of long Tape seagrasses that remain today.

This shore will be impacted by efforts to stabilise the slope. And the deployment of "a few hundred" one-tonne concrete blocks (XblocPlus) “at the toe of the slope to mitigate wave erosion".

The other rich shore on Sentosa is at Serapong. The first phase of the Greater Sentosa begins with the construction of a transport hub linking Sentosa and Pulau Brani in Keppel Harbour. The timing of this phase has yet to be decided. But Brani Port Terminal currently on Pulau Brani are expected to move to Tuas in 2027. These transport hub plans are very close to the last remaining wild reefs at Serapong shores - among the best near the mainland. Wouldn't be great if the plans could allow people to see the reefs at Serapong (yellow area), and allow mangroves to settle naturally on Brani (blue area).

Here's what the team saw in the yellow area in Apr 2026. We surveyed the entire Serapong in Jun 2026.

Hopefully, the development on Brani can make the reefs on Serapong a feature and not a bug? So people using the people mover to cross from Brani to Sentosa can view the corals on Serapong the same way that people using Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal can see the corals that settled naturally on the seawall there.

On the Brani side of the seawall (blue area), perhaps mangroves can be encouraged to settle naturally on the seawall? The way they have done so at Pulau Hantu, without any planting or need to care for them. The Hantu mangroves come in a wide variety including possibly one Nyireh laut! At the exhibition, we saw a live young Nyireh laut which the talented Sentosa horticultural team have propagated. How amazing it would be to replant them on Brani as well!

Wouldn't it be great if Brani and Sentosa shores can become a mother shore to allow natural regeneration when major reclamation and coastal protection is implemented nearby. Reclamation at Keppel-Tanjong Pagar expected to start end of 2027.

And there are long terms plans such as the Greater Southern Waterfront coastal protection plan - a “continuous line of defence” at the South. Construction is slated to begin in the 2030s.

I have submitted this as my feedback to the Greater Sentosa masterplan. Submit your feedback too here https://form.gov.sg/6a44c40969c66ca0ff78bbc6

Giant clam overdose on Terumbu Pempang Laut

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 03:30:00 +0000

This humungous submerged reef lies next to Jurong Island and major shipping lanes. And yet, it has seagrass meadows, corals and lots and lots of Giant clams.

Today, we also saw lots of dugong feeding trails, special anemones and the usual colourful marine life. The corals seem alright, and seagrasses remain the same.

Today, we saw the most number of Giant clams ever in one trip: 14 Burrowing clams and 3 Fluted giant clams. Teresa Tay and her Giant clam team deconflicted our sightings (thank you!) and came up with the total number. Her team of course made the bulk of the sightings, but our team also contributed a few. Well done everyone!

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. Two anemones that might be rarely seen ones, we are still not sure. And Magnificent anemones have settled on this terumbu. Also a lively swimming file clam, special brittle star, a little pipefish. There were lots of stingrays, also colourful slugs and flatworms. As well as Marine spiders and even large octopuses even though we visited in full daylight.

With Jurong Island taking up the entire northern horizon, how amazing to see lots of dugong feeding trails on the seagrasses growing on this large submerged reef! So glad the dugongs are back. The last time we saw the trails was in Dec 2018. The first time I noticed them was in May 2012.

As in Jul 2025, I saw many dugong feeding trails here. These trails are formed when dugongs chomp up seagrasses including their roots, leaving a shallow meandering furrow of about equal width and depth. I also noticed that the seagrass seems to grow more densely next to one of the feeding trails.

The seagrass situation seems good! Similar to our survey in Jul 2025, there is a meadow of Spoon seagrass in the sandy centre of the reef flat. Although the leaves are tiny, they are fresh and green. So much so that a band of green could be seen from a distance. There were sprinkles of seagrass on almost the entire reef flat from the reef edge to the centre. On the sand bars and among the more reefy parts. In some large parts, the seagrasses were growing more densely. Most were fresh and green. The most common were Spoon seagrass (mostly small leaves, but also some with large leaves) and small sparse patches of Sickle seagrass leaves also cropped. I saw some clumps of Tape seagrass, still cropped short.

There has never been a lot of hard corals on this shore. Most are boulder shaped corals.

I checked out the area near the beacon today. Here, there is a good variety of common corals with some forming quite large colonies. Similar to our survey in Jul 2025, I saw scattered colonies of Sandpaper corals, Cauliflower corals, Anemone corals, Disk corals. Also a few clumps of Branching montipora, sparsely distributed - not yet forming a 'field'. Most seemed healthy and were not bleaching.

Similar to our survey in Jul 2025, towards the reef edge near the Beacon, I saw a wider variety of colonies of leathery soft corals. Some of them formed quite large clusters. But not as large as those on nearby Terumbu Pempang Tengah.

Today, I saw two abandoned fish traps in the middle of the reef flat, one was more broken than the other. Richard saw what looks like a functing fish trap on the reef edge.

The ongoing Sudong reclamation is still busy with many large vessels in the water and vehicles on the land. But it seems the sand pile is no longer as tall as what we saw in May 2026 from Terumbu Pempang Tengah. Thanks to Zen Xuan He for this great shot of the reclamation site today.

From Port Marine Notice No. 55 of 2026 "Reclamation at Pulau Sudong" with effect from 08 Apr 2026 to 07 Oct 2026. The works involve the installation of navigational buoys, removal of metallic debris, demolition of abandoned jetty, dredging works, installation of marine staging platforms for soil instrumentation, infilling works, marine vibrocompaction, stone revetment works, and jetty construction to facilitate the reclamation and jetty construction works at Pulau Sudong.

Here is the location of Terumbu Pempang Laut and other nearby shores in relation to the Sudong reclamation.

What is the fate of Terumbu Pempang Laut?

Pulau Hantu and all the terumbus west of it are slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review. Singapore's submerged reefs are often out of sight under the high tide and thus forgotten.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Pulau Semakau and nearby islands and submerged reefs have been recommended by the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 for Immediate Conservation Priority. The Blue Plan recommends the intertidal and subtidal marine areas of Pulau Semakau and adjacent Pulau Hantu, and Pulau Jong to be designated Marine Reserve.

The Blue Plan highlights that Pulau Semakau and its associated patch reefs comprise many ecosystems: coral reefs, mangrove areas, intertidal sandflats, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs. The subtidal area of Pulau Jong is larger than the terrestrial area. Pulau Hantu is a popular dive site has seen increasing interest in the past decade due to biodiversity awareness. If protection is accorded to these three islands, zonation plans for use can be implemented to manage tourism and human impacts.

DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

Photos by others on the survey

Richard Kuah

Jaeden Lim

Zen Xuan He

Rui Quan Oh

Rachael Goh

Tommy Tan

Dylan Sng

Others on this survey: Mud Nasry, Ian Mun, Jason Ooi, Yan Le Su, the Giant Clam team

Berlayar Creek boardwalk closed 3 Jun 2026 to 31 Mar 2027

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 04:59:43 +0000

Berlayar Creek boardwalk at Labrador Nature Park will be closed for improvement works from 3 Jun 26 till 31 Mar 27.

More details from the NParks website below

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BERLAYAR CREEK BOARDWALK CYCLICAL MAINTENANCE 3 JUNE 2026 TO 31 MARCH 2027

1. With the boardwalk currently inaccessible, what is the fastest way to get to Reflections at Keppel Bay from Labrador Park MRT Station?
You may wish to take the public transport along West Coast Highway or alight at Telok Blangah MRT Station; it is closer to Reflections at Keppel Bay in terms of walking distance.

2. Where is the next nearest shelter since the pavilion will be closed during this period?
The nearest shelter will be at Labrador Park MRT station.

3. What is this cyclical maintenance about?
We are conducting improvement works, which are in line with our cyclical maintenance cycle for boardwalks and shelters. The works include re-decking and ensuring structure stability of the boardwalk, replacement of railing and lights, and overall cleaning and painting of the boardwalk and pavilion.

4. Why does this cyclical maintenance need so long to be completed?
Berlayar Creek is one of the few unique mangrove habitats in Singapore and is part of Labrador Nature Park, a biodiversity-rich area buffering the Labrador Nature Reserve. Hence, improvement works need to be carried out sensitively and with more care and supervision to ensure minimum impact to the mangrove forest.

5. Will the mangroves along the boardwalk be affected by this cyclical maintenance?
There will be minimal disturbance to the mangroves as the works are limited to the footprint of the existing boardwalk. There will be no excavation or removal of vegetation in the mangrove. Noise will be kept to a minimum during the work duration, and all disposal of debris will be arranged to be taken off-site promptly.

6. Will there be new designs/features to the finished boardwalk?
Due to the sensitive habitat at Berlayar Creek, it will be a one-to-one replacement of the current boardwalk as the current design serves to balance between environment protection and recreational needs.

7. Is cycling allowed on the boardwalk?
Cycling is not allowed on the boardwalk as it poses a safety risk to visitors and may damage/loosen the planks.

Your feedback sought for preparatory work for Long Island

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:27:00 +0000

Preparatory works will involve removal of seabed obstructions, construction of temporary sand bunds and sand infilling. Phase 1 will begin end-2026, while Phase 2 will take place after the end of the SEA Games 2029.

An Environmental Impact Assessment indicates up to minor impact on some terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Some coral and seagrass beds found near the work site may experience short-term and localised impact from the sediment plumes. However, the majority of coral and seagrass in the vicinity, including Sisters’ Island Marine Park, are largely unaffected.

The area that is used for preparatory works is not reflective of the future land profile of ‘Long Island’.

This project will span a few decades, agencies will continue to engage Singaporeans and stakeholders to shape the plans and design for ‘Long Island’ at various stages of the planning process in the years ahead.

Share your feedback here https://form.gov.sg/675fc8ff28a3ca9ebd83c21b

Full EIA available on the HDB website here

Minister Chee Hong Tat speaks on Facebook.

Joint HDB-URA statement
Preparatory Works for 'Long Island' Project to Commence From End-2026; Measures to Be Implemented to Mitigate Impact on the Environment and Community
HDB website 30 June 2026

Preparatory works for ‘Long Island’, Singapore’s large-scale critical coastal protection strategy, will commence from end-2026. The Housing & Development Board (HDB), the appointed reclamation agent for ‘Long Island’, will implement measures to mitigate the impact of preparatory works on the environment and community, based on findings from an Environmental Study. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) also reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue engaging stakeholders on the planning and design of ‘Long Island’ before finalising reclamation plans.

Preparatory works to be carried out progressively, with measures to minimise disruption

2 ‘Long Island’ is a critical coastal protection measure to safeguard lives and livelihoods, as rising sea levels increasingly affect low-lying coastal areas, including Singapore’s East Coast. Given the scale of the project, preparatory works are essential to lay the groundwork for the future land reclamation for ‘Long Island’. This is to support the timely implementation of ‘Long Island’ to respond to climate risks and meet our national needs.

3 The preparatory works will take place in the waters off the East Coast, and primarily involve the removal of seabed obstructions, followed by the construction of temporary sand bunds and sand infilling. The works will be at least 130m away from the shoreline and will be clearly demarcated by silt screens and/or floating barriers.

4 The preparatory works will be conducted in phases. The first phase will start in end-2026 and will be carried out in the waters west of Bedok Jetty. The first phase will cover an area of approximately 570 ha, and it will span around 7km in length from east to west, and up to 1km wide from north to south.

5 The second phase of preparatory works will be carried out in the waters to the east of Bedok Jetty, and will cover an area of approximately 155 ha. To facilitate the continued use of part of the sea space fronting East Coast Park for water sports and the hosting of major international sporting events, including the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2029, the second phase will only commence after the completion of these events. More details on the commencement date of the second phase will be shared when ready.

6 Members of the public can continue to access the beaches along East Coast Park throughout the preparatory works. Beaches will remain open and accessible for near-shore swimming, while all exercise paths and tracks will remain accessible for jogging and cycling. However, sea users are advised to maintain a safe distance from the marine vessels deployed for the works and the designated work area which will be cordoned off to ensure public safety. Safety advisories will be put up at East Coast Park and on agencies’ websites(1).

Mitigation measures to guide sensitive implementation of preparatory works

7 HDB commissioned an Environmental Study for the preparatory works to study the potential impact of works on the environment and the community. The Environmental Study identified mitigation measures that should be adopted to address the potential environmental impact. As part of the Environmental Study process, HDB consulted the nature groups on the scope of study.

8 The Environmental Study identified the following key findings and mitigation measures for the preparatory works:

a) No significant changes to water quality, which will continue to meet the prevailing marine water quality criteria;

b) Slight localised changes to the currents and waves near Bedok Jetty, which are expected to have minimal impact on existing water-based activities. Near-shore activities such as swimming can continue along the entire stretch of the East Coast;

c) Up to minor visual and ambient air quality impact from sand infilling operations are expected, with intermittent sediment plumes and dust. To minimise impact, silt screens will be deployed to contain the sediment plumes and dust levels will be closely monitored;

d) Up to minor impact on some terrestrial and marine biodiversity as there are some coral and seagrass beds found near the site of the preparatory works that may experience short-term and localised impact from the sediment plumes. However, the majority of coral and seagrass in the vicinity, including Sisters’ Island Marine Park, are largely unaffected.

e) Some sea sports users will be displaced, due to reduction in sea space along East Coast. The impact will be mitigated by the phasing of preparatory works, with kiteboarding being the most affected, and minor to moderate impact on other sea sport users. Agencies will continue to work closely with affected sea sport users to explore alternative sites to continue their activities within the sea space to the east of Bedok Jetty in the interim, and elsewhere in Singapore.

9 An Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP) (2) will be put in place to closely monitor environmental conditions throughout the preparatory works, including water quality, suspended sediment levels, noise and dust.

10 The Environmental Study report is available for public feedback for four weeks from 30 June 2026. Agencies will thoroughly evaluate the feedback received and incorporate suitable suggestions, before finalising the mitigation measures that will be adopted.

Detailed plans and design for ‘Long Island’ to be further developed through subsequent technical studies and continued public engagement before the start of reclamation works

11 The area that is used for preparatory works is not reflective of the future land profile of ‘Long Island’. Agencies will continue to develop detailed plans for ‘Long Island’, including its final reclamation profile which will continue to be refined through ongoing technical studies and upcoming public engagements.

12 The main reclamation works for ‘Long Island’ will be undertaken later, and will only commence after agencies have completed the relevant technical studies, determined mitigation measures, and reviewed and incorporated feedback from further public engagements. The technical studies will cover further environmental and engineering assessments for the actual reclamation profile and works, and are expected to be completed over the next few years.

13 As this project will span a few decades, agencies will continue to engage Singaporeans and stakeholders to shape the plans and design for ‘Long Island’ at various stages of the planning process in the years ahead. Drawing on ideas gathered from more than 14,000 people to date, agencies will begin the next phase of public engagement from end-2026. This phase will build on collective aspirations for ‘Long Island’ to strengthen Singapore’s flood resilience, support sensitive and sustainable development, and preserve flexibility to meet the evolving needs of current and future generations. To shape a shared vision for ‘Long Island’, agencies will invite Singaporeans and stakeholders to explore key topics, including potential recreational activities along the new coastline and within the future reservoir.

14 More information on ‘Long Island’ and the upcoming preparatory works can be found at go.gov.sg/long-island.

(1)Safety advisories can also be found on go.gov.sg/long-island and www.nparks.gov.sg/visit/parks/park-detail/east-coast-park.

(2)The EMMP outlines the mitigation measures, monitoring requirements, roles, and responsibilities required to manage and mitigate environmental impact, ensuring that the project's environmental impact remains within the levels predicted in the environmental assessment.

Preparatory works for 'Long Island' to start from end-2026
An environmental study found that the preparatory works are predicted to have an “overall minor impact” on the surrounding environment.
Erin Liam Channel NewsAsia 30 Jun 2026 12:00PM

SINGAPORE: Preparatory works for “Long Island”, Singapore’s large-scale coastal protection strategy, will start from the end of 2026.

It follows the completion of an environmental study commissioned by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), which found that the preparatory works are predicted to have an “overall minor impact” on the surrounding environment, HDB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a joint press release on Tuesday (Jun 30).

The preparatory works, to be carried out in two phases, will primarily involve removing seabed obstructions and constructing temporary sand bunds and sand infilling.

The works will be at least 130m away from the shoreline, in the waters off East Coast, and will be demarcated by silt screens and/or floating barriers.

They will lay the groundwork for future land reclamation of the decades-long, 800 ha project – dubbed "Long Island" for now – that is aimed at protecting Singapore from sea-level rise.

As a low-lying city state, Singapore needs to “plan early and act decisively” to mitigate the impact of climate change, said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat in a video posted on Facebook on Tuesday.

Long Island would also strengthen water resilience with an additional reservoir and create new land for future needs, he added.

“It is a complex project that requires many years of careful planning and implementation. This is why we are starting preparatory works in the waters off East Coast later this year,” he said.

IMPACT ON BEACH, SEASPORTS COMMUNITY

The preparatory works will be conducted in phases to facilitate the continued use of part of the sea space fronting East Coast Park.

The first phase will start at the end of 2026 and be carried out in the waters west of Bedok Jetty. It will cover an area of about 570 ha – the size of about 800 football fields – and will span around 7km in length from east to west, and up to 1km wide from north to south.

Works for the second phase, which spans about 155 ha, will only start after the 2029 Southeast Asian Games.

HDB, as the appointed reclamation agent for Long Island, will implement measures to mitigate the impact of preparatory works on the environment and community, HDB and URA said.

The study, conducted by DHI Water and Environment, identified that there would be no significant changes to water quality, which will “continue to meet the prevailing marine water quality criteria”, the agencies said.

It started in February 2025. As part of the process, agencies engaged nature groups the following month and they provided input and feedback to refine the scope of the study.

While nearshore swimming conditions are expected to remain unaffected, sea users are advised to maintain a safe distance from the marine vessels deployed for the works and the designated work area, which will be cordoned off to ensure public safety, HDB and URA said.

Beaches along East Coast Park will remain open and accessible for near-shore swimming, while all exercise paths and tracks will stay accessible for jogging and cycling.

However, the preparatory works may cause “slight localised changes” to the currents and waves near Bedok Jetty, which will have a minimal impact on existing water-based activities, HDB and URA said.

Some sea sport users will be displaced due to a reduction in sea space along East Coast.

“The impact will be mitigated by the phasing of preparatory works, with kiteboarding being the most affected, and minor to moderate impact on other sea sport users,” the agencies added.

In response to queries from CNA, Sport Singapore (SportSG) said it recognises that East Coast Park is an "important recreational space with shared memories".

"Agencies have been engaging the affected groups and will continue to work closely with them to explore alternative sites to continue their activities. This includes the sea space to the east of Bedok Jetty, as well as other locations such as Changi, Pasir Ris, Sembawang and Sentosa," SportSG said.

The agency added that in the longer term, the new reservoir and Long Island coastline could potentially support a range of water-based activities and sports. This is being assessed as part of the ongoing technical studies, it said.

IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY

The agencies said that minor visual and ambient air quality impact from sand infilling operations is expected, with intermittent sediment plumes and dust.

HDB and URA said this will be minimised through the use of silt screens to contain the sediment plumes, in addition to close monitoring of dust levels.

The agencies added that the impacts on the natural environment are “generally slight and localised”.

In response to queries from CNA, HDB said that seagrass habitats are generally resilient to periodic turbidity - the cloudiness or haziness of the waters - and are expected to recover without long-term degradation.

It added that there are no sensitive coral communities or intertidal habitats within the project footprint of the preparatory works, and mobile species such as fish are expected to move away from the area where works are conducted.

Macrobenthic communities within the infilling area, including small organisms such as worms, marine snails and clams on the seabed, will be displaced.

“However, the affected area is small relative to similar habitats in surrounding waters, and recovery is expected outside the work footprint,” HDB and URA said, adding that there are no corals and seagrasses within the work footprint.

While the majority of coral and seagrass beds found outside the preparatory work are largely unaffected, those in specific locations such as Marina East and the eastern parts of East Coast may be “slightly affected” by suspended sediments.

Mangroves, intertidal fauna and most marine fauna are “largely unaffected”, the agencies added.

Additionally, while offshore-feeding birds may temporarily be affected due to reduced water space and increased turbidity, they are able to move away from the area, HDB and URA said.

The agencies added that turtle nesting at East Coast Park may be affected, although nesting areas to the east of Bedok Jetty remain accessible during the first phase of preparatory works.

The National Parks Board (NParks) ongoing turtle egg relocation efforts to Sisters’ Island will also support hatching survival over the longer term.

HDB and URA said that no harmful algal blooms or release of heavy metals are expected, and that the risk of oil spills is low given the small number of vessels involved and the mitigation measures in place.

HDB and URA said an environmental monitoring and management plan will be put in place throughout the preparatory works to monitor environmental conditions such as water quality, suspended sediment levels, noise and dust.

This ensures that the project’s environmental impact remains within the levels predicted in the environmental assessment, HDB and URA said.

The environmental study report is available for public feedback for four weeks from Jun 30.

“Agencies will thoroughly evaluate the feedback received and incorporate suitable suggestions, before finalising the mitigation measures that will be adopted,” HDB and URA said.

FURTHER STUDIES, ENGAGEMENT

The agencies said the first stage of the environmental study assessed the potential impact of preparatory works. The second stage, which is ongoing, will assess the potential impact of reclamation and is expected to be completed over the next few years.

The area that is used for preparatory works is not reflective of the future land profile of Long Island, HDB and URA said.

The main reclamation works for Long Island will only commence after agencies have completed the relevant technical studies, determined mitigation measures, and reviewed and incorporated feedback from further public engagements.

When completed, around 20km of new waterfront parks could be added to East Coast Park, which will triple the length of waterfront parks in the area and could add waterfront living concepts, according to URA’s website.

To date, more than 14,000 people have shared ideas on the project. The next phase of engagement will start from end-2026, where the public and stakeholders will be invited to explore key topics, including potential recreational activities along the new coastline and within the future reservoir.

Further technical studies will cover environmental engineering assessments for the actual reclamation profile and works, and are expected to be completed over the next few years.

Works for Long Island to begin off East Coast Park end-2026
Ang Qing and Ng Keng Gene Straits Times Published Jun 30, 2026, 12:00 PM

SINGAPORE – Works to prepare for the reclamation of land off East Coast Park will start end-2026, after which sea sports will only be allowed east of Bedok Jetty.

Some impact on biodiversity, including the critically endangered hawksbill turtle that nests at the park, is expected from the works, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Housing Board (HDB).

Further details about the reclamation project, tentatively dubbed Long Island, were revealed by both agencies on June 30, when a report detailing the environmental impact of the works was released.

The preparatory works will take place in two phases around fishing hot spot Bedok Jetty, said the agencies.

The first phase to the west of the jetty will begin from end-2026, covering an area of about 570ha and spanning some 7km in length.

The second phase to the east of the jetty will start after the completion of major international sporting events hosted by Singapore, including the South-east Asian (SEA) Games in 2029, to allow for water sports off East Coast Park.

Sport Singapore (SportSG) said in a statement the waters to the east of Bedok Jetty will remain available for sea sports activities until at least 2029.

The government agencies did not reveal when the works will end.

Altogether, the sea space covered by the works amounts to about 725ha, or roughly twice the size of Marina Bay.

A HDB spokesperson told The Straits Times that these works had to be undertaken progressively near the reclamation site to ensure the timely completion of Long Island that is expected to take decades to plan, design and implement.

“We are phasing the preparatory works to reduce the impact on existing water-based activities off East Coast Park while the works are carried out,” she added.

Unveiled as part of the long-term plan for Singapore’s development in 1991, Long Island has evolved into a large-scale coastal defence against rising sea levels, which will also create an additional reservoir and land for future needs.

The preparatory works include clearing seabed obstructions, constructing temporary sand bunds, and transporting sand for infilling at the site.

The agencies said the date for the second phase, which covers about 155ha, will be shared once the timeline is firmed up.

“There are currently no plans to carry out preparatory works in a third area,” the agencies told ST.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said on social media that people can keep using beaches, exercise paths and tracks along East Coast Park while works are ongoing.

Some sea sports users, however, will be displaced due to the reduction in sea space along the East Coast, with kiteboarding being the most affected, according to URA and HDB.

According to the Kitesurfing Association of Singapore, the sport is allowed at East Coast Park from Bedok Jetty up to Marina South – the area that will be impacted by works during phase one – during the south-west monsoon season.

SportSG said the agencies will work with affected groups to continue their activities at alternative sites. This includes the sea space to the east of Bedok Jetty, as well as other locations like Changi, Pasir Ris, Sembawang and Sentosa.

The agency said it recognises that East Coast Park is an important recreational space with shared memories, noting that ongoing technical studies are assessing if ‘Long Island’ and the new reservoir can support a range of water-based activities and sports.

Meanwhile, anglers will still be allowed to use nearshore fishing areas and Bedok Jetty, although the works could impact fish and reduce catch rates.

Those who swim near the shore of East Coast Park will also be allowed to do so, as the works will take place at least 130m away from the shoreline.

The agencies said land-based park users will experience minimal impact, apart from the potential rise in visible wind-blown dust. This is unlikely to cause significant discomfort or require protective measures.

These findings were based on the first stage of an environmental study by consultancy DHI Water and Environment that commenced in February 2025.

Nature groups were consulted in March 2025 to refine the scope of the study, including suggestions on where and when to survey the presence of seasonal migratory birds, said the HDB and URA.

The study anticipated minor impact on some terrestrial and marine biodiversity from the works, as some coral and seagrass beds closer to the site at locations like Marina East and eastern East Coast Park could experience short-term and localised impact from suspended sediments.

However, most of coral and seagrass in the vicinity, including Sisters’ Island Marine Park, the likely source of Singapore’s coral diversity, will be largely unaffected, according to the report.

The URA and HDB said: “Infilling will be carefully monitored to contain sediment plumes within the work area and away from the shoreline.”

They added that nesting areas to the east of Bedok Jetty will remain accessible to turtles during the first phase of the preparatory works. Ongoing egg relocation efforts to Sisters’ Island will also support the survival of hatchlings.

The agencies said the area used for preparatory works is not reflective of the future land profile for Long Island, and will be clearly demarcated with silt screens or floating barriers.

They added that the second stage of the environmental study, which assesses the potential impact of reclamation works, is ongoing.

The agencies said: “Detailed plans for ‘Long Island’, including its development footprint and final reclamation profile, will continue to be refined through ongoing technical studies, including the environmental study for reclamation works, and the next phase of public engagements.”

In November 2023, then National Development Minister Desmond Lee had said that government agencies will carry out technical studies for the Long Island project over five years, starting early 2024.

The current plan is for three elongated tracts of land to be reclaimed in the area, extending from Marina East to Tanah Merah, with a large tidal gate and pumping station built between each new land mass.

Civil and environmental engineering assistant professor Chew Soon Hoe said the first phase will likely take at least three to four years, while the second phase could last for up to three years.

“These timelines are indicative and could vary depending on the final construction methodology, resource allocation, and the rate at which reclamation materials can be sourced and delivered,” added Chew, who teaches at the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering.

Actual reclamation works involve much more than the placement of sand, he said, noting that sand infilling alone does not produce land that is structurally ready for development. Reclamation works include seabed improvement, ground treatment and other measures necessary to create land that is stable and suitable for long-term development.

He added: “Given the scale and long-term nature of the Long Island project, which is expected to be implemented progressively over several decades, it is likely that further quantities of additional sand will still be required during the subsequent reclamation phases.

“The preparatory works should therefore be viewed as an enabling step that facilitates and accelerates future reclamation works.”

The URA and HDB said the next phase of public engagement for Long Island will begin from end-2026, building on ideas gathered from more than 14,000 people in the first phase.

Topics to be discussed include potential recreational activities along the new coastline and within the future reservoir.

The URA told ST that government agencies have been offering shorter tenancy extensions to businesses at East Coast Park to provide greater flexibility during the works. It did not share how many tenants took up shorter leases.

“We will continue to engage tenants closely and support their transition plans, where necessary,” it said.

How East Coast Park will be affected by Long Island works from end-2026
Ang Qing and Ng Keng Gene Straits Times Jun 30, 2026, 12:20 PM

SINGAPORE - From end-2026, preparatory works for the reclamation of Long Island will start in two phases in the waters off East Coast Park.

The works involve the clearing of seabed obstructions and movement of materials like sand.

Altogether, the sea space covered by the works amounts to about 725ha, or nearly twice the size of Marina Bay.

The Straits Times unpacks how the park’s users and businesses will be affected.

Sea sports

Sea sports are not allowed within the Phase 1 work area. These include sailing, windsurfing and kayaking.

Sport Singapore said that government agencies will work with affected groups to continue their activities at alternative sites. This includes the sea space to the east of Bedok Jetty, as well as other locations like Changi, Pasir Ris, Sembawang and Sentosa.

The statutory board said waters to the east of Bedok Jetty will remain available for sea sports activities until at least 2029.

According to the Kitesurfing Association of Singapore, the sport is allowed at East Coast Park from Bedok Jetty up to Marina South – the area that will be impacted by works during phase one – during the south-west monsoon season.

The second phase of preparatory works off the east of Bedok Jetty is slated to start after the completion of major international sporting events, including the South-east Asian (SEA) Games in 2029. More details will be shared when the agencies are ready.

Fishing

Fishing near the shore and at Bedok Jetty can continue.

However, the works could displace fish and reduce catch rates in the area.

Agencies will put up early communication and signs to keep anglers informed.
Swimming

The preparatory works will be clearly demarcated by silt screens and floating barriers.

Swimming near the shore will be allowed, as works will take place at least 130m away from the East Coast shoreline.

Users of the sea are advised to maintain a safe distance from marine vessels deployed for work. The designated work area that will be cordoned off to ensure public safety.

Land-based activities and businesses

Beaches, exercise paths and tracks will remain open and accessible.

An increase in visible wind-blown dust is anticipated near the project. This is not expected to cause significant discomfort or require protective measures.

The URA told ST it does not expect land-based activities to be affected by the works, but the government agencies have been offering shorter tenancy extensions to businesses at East Coast Park to provide greater flexibility during this period of works for Long Island.

It did not share how many tenants took up shorter leases.

“We will continue to engage tenants closely and support their transition plans, where necessary,” the agency added.

Muted mass coral spawning in 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:20:50 +0000

This year's annual mass coral spawning at Pulau Satumu was a muted affair. “While some coral colonies were observed spawning, the overall activity appeared relatively muted compared with the spawning activity previously observed in some years, where a larger number of species had spawned,” said Karenne Tun, group director of the National Parks Board’s (NParks) National Biodiversity Centre.

Scientists said this could be due to global mass coral bleaching in 2024 and a smaller-scale bleaching event at Pulau Satumu in September 2025. Coral scientists worldwide are expecting mass coral bleaching in 2026-2027.

Muted coral spawning in Singapore in 2026 may reflect lower resilience across reef
Shabana Begum Straits Times Jun 21, 2026, 12:00 PM

SINGAPORE – The annual mass-mating of corals in Singapore’s waters in April and May 2026 was a muted affair.

The reduced release of eggs and sperm at one of Singapore’s richest coral reefs off Raffles Lighthouse could reflect an overall reduced resilience across the reef, said Karenne Tun, group director of the National Parks Board’s (NParks) National Biodiversity Centre.

This needs further investigation, she added.

Scientists said the lacklustre reproduction could be an effect of the 2024 marine heatwave – which caused more than 40 per cent of corals to bleach and turn white at one point – as well as a small-scale bleaching event at Pulau Satumu, where Raffles Lighthouse is located, in September 2025.

Mass spawning events occur once a year, and are usually a spectacular underwater show in which the coral reefs appear to “snow” as they release bundles of coral eggs and sperm.

The phenomenon usually happens a few nights after the full moon following the spring equinox, which generally occurs here around late March.

The larger the “snowy blizzard”, the more likely it is that fertilisation will occur. The eggs and sperm then join to form larvae, which are carried by the water until some find a hard surface to latch on to and grow on.

NParks held its annual coral spawning surveys at the southern island of Pulau Satumu from April 4 to 6 with researchers from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) and the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory.

“While some coral colonies were observed spawning, the overall activity appeared relatively muted compared with the spawning activity previously observed in some years, where a larger number of species had spawned,” said Tun.

NParks and the researchers returned to Satumu in May to see if more spawning happened. After April’s turnout, they initially suspected that the spawning was split across two months.

But no significant activity was seen in May.

The muted reproductive event was similar to what happened in 2025, a few months after reefs were hit with mass bleaching in 2024 because of the warming El Nino climate phenomenon.

Back then, NParks and NUS said corals that had recovered from the 2024 episode may not have had enough energy to reproduce.

On the latest spawning episode, Tun said: “The reduced spawning capacity may, however, reflect an overall reef-wide reduced resilience, which requires further investigation.”

Some species continued to reproduce despite the recent environmental stressors, including the Diploastrea moon coral and the Montipora velvet corals.

Higher sea temperatures stress coral reefs, forcing them to expel the algae that give them their striking colours.

This causes corals to bleach, or turn ash-white.

The ordeal in 2024 – part of the severe fourth global mass bleaching episode – killed 5 per cent of corals in Singapore. Between early 2023 and mid-2025, 84 per cent of the world’s coral reefs were affected by the marine heatwave.

Research fellow Lionel Ng from TMSI – who was among the NUS scientists involved in the surveys in April and May – said the combined effects of the 2024 bleaching event and a smaller-scale bleaching episode at Satumu in September 2025 may have reduced reef health or modified the physiological responses of the corals.

“The reef’s reproductive ability may not have been able to fully recover in time for the mass spawning event,” he said.

While more studies need to be done, scientists suspect that the 2025 bleaching at Satumu is due to a strong south-west monsoon bringing in more water rich in river run-off from the Strait of Malacca.

The organic-laden, cloudy water may have reduced the amount of light entering the corals in deeper zones, causing them to bleach.

Ng said: “It may be useful to understand how successive (environmental) disturbances also impact reproductive capacity and the early life stages of our corals. These have long-term consequences for reef replenishment and key ecological functions.”

Coral scientists worldwide are dreading another global marine heatwave that could emerge with the upcoming El Nino, which is predicted to be stronger than the previous one from 2023 to 2024.

Back-to-back mass bleaching can further aggravate the health of coral reefs, but is an emerging pattern with climate change.

The Meteorological Service Singapore forecasts that El Nino conditions will develop from June to July. Nearly every El Nino event since 1998 has coincided with mass coral bleaching that also affected Singapore’s waters. The last super El Nino in 2015 and 2016 caused 10 per cent of local corals to die.

To boost the reproduction of local reefs, scientists here are trying to fertilise corals in the laboratory.

In April, the researchers based at St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory and staff from NParks collected some of the spawn to fertilise them.

“Corals grow very slowly and juvenile corals are more vulnerable, requiring more care during the early stages,” said Ng.

Sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity among coral babies.

“This is important for improving our chances of producing corals that possess certain traits which afford resilience during environmental disturbance,” Ng added.

Sentosa Tg. Rimau: Interlocking 1-tonne blocks to be deployed

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:05:03 +0000

"A few hundred" one-tonne concrete blocks (XblocPlus) will be deployed at Sentosa Tanjung Rimau's natural cliffs. The interlocking blocks will be placed “at the toe of the slope to mitigate wave erosion". PUB said the location was identified together with Sentosa Development Corporation which is planning to do slope stabilisation works there.

"The blocks’ high porosity will also provide safe havens for marine life while effectively dissipating wave energy." This project will mark local construction firm Woh Hup Engineering’s first foray into the coastal protection industry, with the goal of ensuring the product is cost-effective enough for nationwide use.

Sentosa Tg Rimau has among our last natural cliffs with natural rocky shores. A natural coastal forest cloaks the cliff. Hardy plants grow here. Sentosa's coastal forest has some of the last of Singapore's now rare coastal plants.

Among them is Nyireh laut which is Critically Endangered in Singapore and we probably have less than 10 trees on our shores. On our last survey in Jan 2026, the mother tree looks a little less leafy, but otherwise seems okay. Her oldest Daughter no. 1 next to her is still alright with fresh green leaves. The next younger Daughter no. 2 growing near the pill box is growing tall with fresh green leaves. Daughter no. 3 which I last saw as a sapling in Apr 2014 has grown really tall with fresh green leaves. Today, I managed a look at her trunk! And Nasry pointed out what could be Daughter no. 4 nearby!

Living Lab: $14 million awarded for testing coastal defence projects in Singapore
Ang Qing Straits Times Jun 17, 2026, 01:00 PM

SINGAPORE – An eco-friendly seawall that seals its own cracks and gradually adapts to rising sea levels is among five projects slated for testing along Singapore’s coastline from 2027.

Backed by an injection of about $14 million from national water agency PUB’s Living Lab platform, these coastal protection projects could evolve from pilot projects into scalable solutions in the Republic.

The initiative was announced by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on June 17, at the Coastal and Flood Resilience Leaders Summit at Singapore International Water Week.

Developed by universities, contractors and consultants, these test-bedded solutions are designed to fortify Singapore’s coastal and flood defences, for which the Government set aside $10 billion in 2020.

Fu said: “By bringing together universities and industry players in these R&D projects, we can turn promising ideas into deployable solutions, and deployable solutions into infrastructure at scale.

“As Singapore and cities around the world confront growing coastal and flood risks, one thing is clear: None of us can do this alone. But together, we can move faster and further.”

The projects will be tested at Sentosa’s Tanjong Rimau, Changi, Yishun Dam and East Coast Park, PUB said in a statement. These sites were chosen based on technical, operational and environmental factors.

Over three years, the Living Lab’s findings will determine the solutions’ viability for long-term, large-scale coastal protection.

Off the coast of Changi, a team will trial a “living seawall” designed to incrementally respond to gradual sea level rise while ensuring that marine biodiversity thrives.

Yang Zi Qian, managing director of Delta Marine Consultants, said the approach could upend the traditional view that vertical seawalls are at odds with nature, while providing flexibility to gradually extend the wall as the sea rises.

“The concept of an incremental build is going to be one of the essential elements of our coastal protection policy,” said Yang, who leads one of the project’s six partnering entities. “We don’t build a giant seawall all at once, nor do we under-protect. We build what we need, monitor future forecasts and structurally scale it up accordingly to adapt to a changing climate.”

The consortium also includes Japanese engineering firm Kajima Corporation, the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Singapore Institute of Technology, Samwoh Innovation Centre and Oung Construction.

The integrated wall will draw on Kajima’s experience building an eco-friendly seawall in Tokyo, said Hiroyuki Takasuna, strategic adviser for Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore. The Tokyo wall was planned with local biodiversity of fish, crabs and other marine life in mind, through the design of grooves, tide pools and other features.

This will be adapted to Singapore’s tropical climate, factoring in the Republic’s humidity, temperature, tidal conditions, solar radiation and sea level projections, Takasuna added.

Samwoh Corporation director Ho Nyok Yong said the low-carbon structure will, like the human body, be able to seal itself whenever a crack surfaces, using an embedded network containing a patented sealing agent that acts like a blood coagulant.

He added: “The strength of the (sealing agent) is equal to or even better than the original concrete, allowing it to stand forever.”

On Sentosa, another project will deploy an interlocking concrete armour system of blocks that blunts the impact of waves and erosion.

Originally created to protect the Netherlands, where 75,000 such blocks are already in use, the modular defence system known as XblocPlus will be tested for its effectiveness in tropical urban waters with lower wave energy.

A few hundred blocks, each weighing about a tonne, will be placed off Tanjong Rimau, where one of Singapore’s last remaining coastal cliffs and rocky shores is located.

Because the armour requires only a single layer, it significantly reduces the material needed for coastal defence, said NUS civil and environmental engineering professor Adrian Law.

His team will use remote sensing software and other monitoring methods to assess the barrier’s strength.

The blocks’ high porosity will also provide safe havens for marine life while effectively dissipating wave energy.

This project will mark local construction firm Woh Hup Engineering’s first foray into the coastal protection industry, with the goal of ensuring the product is cost-effective enough for nationwide use.

Addressing concerns from nature experts that construction near Tanjong Rimau could disrupt wildlife habitats, PUB said the location of its project was identified by the agency and Sentosa Development Corporation for integration with planned slope stabilisation works.

The works to address slope integrity at Tanjong Rimau are aimed at protecting the area’s valuable ecological and historical features, PUB told The Straits Times.

It added: “Deployed at the toe of the slope, XblocPlus will serve as a coastal protection measure to mitigate wave-induced erosion to preserve the stability and effectiveness of the slope stabilisation works and safeguard public safety.”

These five projects bring the total number of projects under PUB’s Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme to 38.

New rulebook on how landowners can defend coast from rising seas launched, to be mandatory from 2028
Coastal landowners with more than 30 years left on their lease must plan their defences against a projected rise in sea level by 2.15m.
Ang Hwee Min Channel NewsAsia 17 Jun 2026 01:00PM(Updated: 17 Jun 2026 01:32PM)

COASTAL PROTECTION SOLUTIONS

Apart from the new code, Ms Fu said PUB has also awarded S$14 million to five projects to test coastal protection solutions.

These measures will be implemented at selected locations along Singapore’s coastline from 2027, said PUB in a factsheet.

The results from the five projects will be assessed over three years to determine if they can be used for future coastal protection works, the agency said.

For example, a team comprising individuals from the National University of Singapore (NUS), construction company Woh Hup and Delta Marine Consultants has deployed an interlocking concrete armour system to protect against waves and erosion at Sentosa, said Ms Fu.

This design achieves better protection with less concrete, which reduces costs, carbon footprint and Singapore’s reliance on imported materials, she added.

Another adaptive, eco-friendly seawall project involves Japanese construction company Kajima, and local firms Samwoh Innovation Centre and Oung Construction, as well as NUS, the Singapore Institute of Technology and Delta Marine Consultants.

Building on Kajima’s eco-friendly seawall work in Tokyo, the project will test the use of prefabricated elements, with low-carbon materials, smart sensors and self-healing mechanisms to reduce emissions and maintenance costs, Ms Fu said.

“As Singapore and cities around the world confront growing coastal and flood risks, one thing is clear. None of us can do this alone. But together, we can move faster and further.”

Source: CNA/hw(nj)

Terumbu Raya in the face of Sudong reclamation

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:23:44 +0000

We return to Terumbu Raya East for the first time in 4 years! Although it lies just off the petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom it is still very much alive. With sprinkles of corals and seagrasses.

The rest of the team saw sharks, sea turtles, special anemones and other marine life.

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. Large colourful reef fish, groups of many squids at the reef edge, even octopus despite the daylight. There were colourful echinoderms like feather stars, large Diadema sea urchins and special brittle stars. We regularly only see a few nudibranchs in the south (a much wider variety in the north), the team saw all the common ones. Unfortunately, seem that only one small Noble volute was seen. Ian captured a lot of sharks hanging around the reef edge from his drone.

Tammy captured this rare glimpse of a sea turtle. The rest of the team also heard sea turtles during the survey. We often do encounter sea turtles on our surveys, but they are too fast to capture. We first hear the explosive sound as the animal emerges at the surface to exhale. And generally only get a few seconds glimpse of it before it inhales and dives down again.

The rest of the team also came across what seems to be two Leathery sea anemones which are quite rarely encountered. They also saw a bubble tip anemone, some Magnificent anemones (not yet forming fields it seems). Almost every member saw 'Nemos' in the Giant carpet anemones - I totally failed to see any.

The Giant clam team was with us and they found 11! The team took photos of some of the clams, including one dead clam. This is unfortunately common: we regularly find our favourite large clams dead.

There have never been a lot of corals on this shore. Some scattered medium sized boulder-shaped coral colonies. Most seemed alright.

Similar to what I saw in May 2022, the reef edge facing Pulau Semakau no longer had a lot of live corals as in the past. But there were still scattered colonies mostly boulder shaped with some less commonly seen kinds like Anchor coral, Lettuce coral, Brain coral. There were more live corals turning the corner to the shore facing Beting Bemban Besar, with even a Tongue mushroom coral.

The team also saw special corals that I missed, plus a patch of many circular mushroom corals. They also took great photos of the reef edge which is rich with corals.

There are not a lot of leathery soft corals on this shore, mostly medium to small colonies of various kinds. I saw several Giant carpet anemone (no 'Nemos') and one Fire anemone. Also one Asparagus flowery soft coral. None of them were bleaching. The Giant clam team was with us and found a lot! I happened to be nearby when they found this large one.

The seagrass situation is probably similar to what we saw in May 2022 and Aug 2021. Most of the centre of the flats are still bare sand. There were denser patches seagrasses toward the seaward edges, mostly heavily covered in epiphytes. All the Tape seagrasses I saw were cropped short.

Zen came across two abandoned net. They look quite recent (not much algae growing on them), one had a fish trapped in it. Fortunately they were not super long. It has been quite some time since we came across abandoned nets here.

The Sudong reclamation worksite looks similar to what we saw in May 2026 from Beting Bemban Besar. Tall piles of sand with lots of large heavy equipment on the sand and in the water.

The reclamation site is not yet showing up on Google Earth but an aviation news site Alert 5 has shared an image dated 13 Jun 2026 from the Copernicus system.

Here is the location of Terumbu Raya and other nearby shores in relation to the Sudong reclamation.

What is the fate of Beting Bemban Besar?

Large areas nearby are also slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review.

Blue Plan highlights that Pulau Semakau and its associated patch reefs comprise many ecosystems: coral reefs, mangrove areas, intertidal sandflats, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs. The subtidal area of Pulau Jong is larger than the terrestrial area. Pulau Hantu is a popular dive site has seen increasing interest in the past decade due to biodiversity awareness. If protection is accorded to these three islands, zonation plans for use can be implemented to manage tourism and human impacts.

DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

Photos by others on this survey

Tammy Lim

Lon Voon Ong

Adriane Lee

Richard Kuah

Zen Xuan He

Rui Quan Oh

Dylan Sng

Tommy Tan

Others on this survey: Lester Tan, Ian Mun

A restricted East Coast Park site continues to thrive

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:01:21 +0000

Corals have settled on a 2.5km long seawall at East Coast Park stretching to Marina Bay! Seagrass meadows carpet the lagoon behind the seawall, while mangroves settled on the breakwaters. This shore was hit by by mass coral bleaching and the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill in 2024.

Fortunately, we already noticed recovery in Nov 2025, which seems to be continuing today. Well formed corals were seen at the seawall, lush seagrass meadows on the artificial lagoon and mangroves growing on the seawall were doing well. Thanks for permission from agencies to survey this shore.

Today, our Human Climbing Crabs were surveying Changi Bay, so no one really looked closely at the seawall. I had a closer look by feebly walking along the low shore. There were some large coral colonies which were well formed and had no dead patches.

We came across 2 Spiny sea stars and 1 young Purple-legged crab: these are common in the North but less so in the south. I also saw a moon snail in the process of eating a struggling bivalve. Sponges, colourful hydroids and zoanthids also grew on the seawalls, while we saw a moult of a horseshoe crab, and shell of a Fan clam. There was one Diadema sea urchin among the seagrass.

At the 'elbow' of a breakwater, floating things will gather and pool. Such as mangrove seedlings, seagrass seeds. Indeed, there are lush seagrass growths here, as well as mangroves. While corals grow on the seawall too.

Some mangroves have settled naturally on the back of the breakwater wall. In Jun 2024, the seawall was heavily coated in oil and there was a large 'pancake' of oil at the base of the wall. The prop roots of the two bigger trees were heavily coated in oil. Smaller saplings were festooned with oil-slicked litter.

As they did on our last survey in Nov 2025, the mangrove trees were free of oil, prop roots looked fresh and clean, and they were flowering and producing propagules. Even the little sapling survived and seem to have grown a little!

Today the tide was very low, exposing a large expanse of seagrasses growing in the artificial lagoon formed behind the 2.5km long seawall. There remains many patches of Needle seagrass (both skinny and broad leaf blades) and Spoon seagrasses (both small and large leaf blades). I saw a small patch of Sickle seagrass. Lester confirmed there were still sprinkles of of Fern seagrass which we saw here for the first time in Nov 2025 - the first time outside of Changi and Chek Jawa.

Since our Nov 2025 survey, most abundant seagrass remains Noodle seagrass! They formed dense patches everywhere on the shore and low water mark, with very long (20cm) fresh green leaves. On our Jun 2024 survey, I only saw a few patches on them. There were also many patches of Serrated ribbon seagrass everywhere. These two species also dominate the East Coast (Sailing Centre) shore that we surveyed a few days ago. These two species are not as commonly seen on our other shores, not sure what is going on.

Similar to our Jun 2024 and Nov 2025 survey, I saw many clumps of Tape seagrass, both on the low water mark and in deeper water in the middle of the lagoon. Even inside the canal! All had nice long leaves, I didn't see any with cropped leaves. One clump had developing female flowers. I also noticed that the leaves 'stood' straight up from the ground. Not sure whether the cropping we see on Tape seagrasses growing elsewhere is due to the leaves laying flat against the ground? Must observe them more closely.

This shore is closed to the public and thus not cleaned as regularly as our recreational beaches. There has thus always been a large and growing pile of litter here. I also saw an abandoned net, overgrown with seaweeds, washed up on the shore. Today, it was super low and I noticed a line of litter that accumulates at the low water mark as well. Among the litter were many single-use water cups, which commonly wash up on beaches along the ferry routes. These are not commonly used by beach goers or the local boating or fishing community. But these single-use water cups are apparently given out to passengers on ferries. It seems no facilities are provided at any of the piers/terminals under MPA's charge for vessels to responsibly dispose of trash generated during their operation. More in this post.

We spent a bit of time in the public area waiting for the tide to fall low enough for safe access to the restricted area. The public area has a smaller representation of corals on a seawall and seagrasses on an artificial lagoon. The corals were doing well, seagrasses growing lush, against a backdrop of condos, and the angry red glow in the distance is flaring at Penggerang Johor that we saw yesterday at Beting Bronok!

What is the fate of this shore?

East Coast shores slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review. There were additional details, plans for a 'Long Island' opposite East Coast Park is now official. In addition to more reclamation along that shoreline, already unveiled in 2013.

This shore will also be affected by plans for Long Island.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is already happening now. Unintentionally, with zero replanting. Can we plan coastal works to allow reefs, mangroves and seagrasses to naturally regenerate? Naturalise canals leading to the sea for a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves? Imagine what's possible! Reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep, for all in the City to enjoy. More about this idea in my feedback to the Draft Master Plan 2013.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Check out the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 which outlines community recommendations for all these shores. DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

See East Coast shores for yourself. It's fun and easy to explore these shores. More details in "East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family". The public can visit the shorter seawall and seagrasses in the smaller lagoon outside the restricted area.

Photos by others on this survey

Dylan Seng

Others on this survey: Jason Ooi, Nasry, Lester

Artificial shores at Changi Bay are alive!

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 02:48:00 +0000

Thanks for to the tiny team of our Human Climbing Crabs for taking on the challenge to survey this large artificial shore that is quite hard to get to and slippery and tricky to survey.

On the seawall, corals have settled naturally, and on the shallow berm, it seems even seagrasses have flourished with what seems to be a dugong feeding trail. An astonishing variety of marine life has settled here from colourful slugs to fishes, crabs and echinoderms.

The seagrassy area seems lush and even had what looks like a dugong feeding trail! As well as the usual animals associated with seagrasses like seahorses, swimming anemones, short spined black sea urchins. There were even animals commonly seen in soft shores like sea pens and cerianthids. Seems the seagrasses are mostly Spoon seagrass with some Needle seagrass.

People don't believe me when I say, Changi is among the best shores to see a wide variety of nudibranchs. No need to dive! Once again, the team proves this is true. From the commonly seen Jorunna nudibranchs busy chomping up a big blue sponge and then busy mating to make more sponge-eaters. To a wide variety of flatworms too.

Seems there is a good variety of echinoderms on the shore. From sea stars commonly seen on seagrasses to those found on hard surfaces. Brittle stars tiny to large. Diadema sea urchins more commonly associated with reefs - big one and smaller juvenile. To heart urchins which are burrowing and rarely seen above ground. As well as sea cucumbers, including many Big synaptid sea cucumbers more often seen on reefy shores.

A variety of corals have settled naturally on the seawall. Seems to be mostly commonly seen boulder shaped and plate-forming corals. There was also a large sea fan.

How wonderful to see fishes more commonly associated with reefs like juvenile Batfishes, special scorpionfishes and reef gobies. But there were also the usual northern fishes like Estuarine moray eel, filefishes, rabbitfish and more.

There were also sea anemones that are more commonly seen in the South, near reefs. Like the Giant carpet anemone and Frilly anemones. As well as South reef-associated crabs like the Teddy bear crab and some swimming crabs. But there were the usual hermit crabs, shrimps and other crabs common at Changi.

Where is Changi Bay shore?

Accessible via the PCN and only exposed at super low tides, the artificial seawall is just off Aviation Park Road. Here's a view of Changi Bay shores in relation to better known Changi Carpark 6 and Carpark 7 shores.

What is the fate of Changi Bay?

The planned reclamation off Aviation Park will bury the marine life here. Although it is reported that "corals within the project’s footprint and a surrounding buffer area will be transplanted elsewhere before development works begin". No timeline was given for the reclamation.

Here's a view of the planned Aviation Park reclamation overlaid on the locations of Changi shores.

The Lost Coast on the eastern most point of the area is already being reclaimed and much of the marine life there already lost.

See Changi shores for yourself !

They are easy to get to, and enjoyed by many people. It remains rich in marine life. More details in "Changi - an easy intertidal adventure for the family". This reefy part of Changi needs a very low spring tide of zero to minus zero.

Photos by those on the survey

Loh Kok Sheng

Jianlin Liu

Rui Quan Oh

Tommy Tan

Earlier visits to this shore

Loh Kok Sheng 4 Jan 2026

Loh Kok Sheng on 28 Jun 2025

Loh Kok Sheng 9 Jul 2024

Loh Kok Sheng 24 Jan 2023

Loh Kok Sheng 31 Jan 2022

Beting Bronok still alive

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:23:29 +0000

Our annual survey to this reefy northern flat is bitter-sweet. Like visiting our favourite grandma and watching her painfully, slowly fade away. I feel privileged to have seen her at her best.

Despite the ongoing reclamation works on Pulau Tekong nearby, and flaring at Penggerang Johor, it remains alive. Seagrasses remain abundant as much of the shore has become very soft and silty. The small patch rich with delicate colourful animals is still there although faltering a bit. The rest of the team spot special sea stars, sea horses, moray eel and many other interesting marine life.

The rest of team had lots of seahorse sightings. After trying my best to deconflict the photos of the same individual (difficult for the plain brown ones), it seems they saw at least 10 different individuals! Most seem to be the Estuarine seahorse, and one seems to be the Tiger-tailed seahorse more commonly seen in the south. Adriane saw the most number: 4 individuals including a pair - we do often see yellow and brown seahorse close to one another.

Lots of small frogfishes were seen! Zen alone saw 10. In various colours and patterns. There was also a Brown spotted moray eel as well as the Estuarine moray eel. Colourful fishes associated with reefs were also seen: two different kinds of butterflyfish, damselfish, gobies. Also the spotted scat, and lots of rabbitfishes, filefishes.

Good to know Beting Bronok remains quite starry. The team found 3 Bordered sea stars - these pale blue stars with narrow arms are only commonly seen on Beting Bronok. They also saw some Cake sea stars large and small, some Painted sand stars and Red scaly sea stars. It was a relief to know the Biscuit sea stars are still there - hope these small ones grow up to be big and strong. Unfortunately, we have not seen the Knobbly sea stars here for some years already.

A northern reefy shore will usually have a wider variety of nudibranch and slugs than a southern one. Among the special nudis seen was the Sibogae nudibranch that eats hydroids, the Armina nudibranch that eats sea pens, lots of Bushy slugs which suck the sap of seaweeds. Also many colourful flatworms.

Adriane encountered an explosion of small Swimming anemones among the seagrasses. Here's his awesome video of them swimming. The team also saw a Haeckel's anemone, a Snaky anemone, many transparent Glass anemones and one with reddish tentacles. One anemone had captured a small fish. All the usual sea pens were seen but most abundant were Spiky sea pens, some with the very cute porcelain crabs that are only found in these sea pens. There was also a Black mouth cerianthid that we usually only see in the south.

There is small reefy patch on Beting Bronok that I call the 'sponge garden'. In Jun 2024, there was mass dying of sponges in this area. In Jun 2025 there seemed to be some recovery with a wide variety of healthy sponges, especially on the seaward side. Today, the area with healthy sponges seems smaller and I saw fewer clumps of healthy sponges elsewhere on the reef flat. Yellow bumpy sponges remain the most abundant kind but most were heavily coated in silt.

The most abundant cnidarian remains Button zoanthids which still cover large areas of the flat, very densely in some parts. The stinging hydroids were particularly abundant and large, many standing upright out of water like shrubs with evil intent. There were a lot of Spangled flatworms, individual sprinkled all over the reef flats. I saw one Ball flowery soft coral, one Pink flowery soft coral and one sea fan. Also one spiky sea pen, a few Haddon's carpet anemones. I saw one large Cake sea stars, but the rest of the team saw echinoderms of all kinds. I will update with their observations later.

I still saw small healthy Boulder pore corals colonies, but much fewer. In Jun 2024 at the height of mass coral bleaching, I saw about 40 corals: 100% were bleaching. In Jun 2025, I saw about 20 corals, half were okay, the rest were stressed or had large dead portions and even a bit of bleaching. Today, I saw 10 corals all okay except 2 that were very pale. I also saw a Small goniopora coral, and some tiny Neat hexa corals.

The rest of the team saw several different kinds of corals that I totally missed! Including Anemone corals and other kinds of Merulinid corals. They all seemed fine.

Recently, I sensed that we have been seeing much fewer Noble volutes that in the past. So we are now going to document every live Noble volute that we see. As a team, we saw only 6 live volutes at Beting Bronok today - mostly large ones, no egg masses seen. This large beautiful snail is restricted to our part of the world, in particular, Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. We have a duty to protect them. Hopefully, our sightings will help encourage further study into whether the populations on our shores are okay. We didn't see any live Bailer volutes, only a few empty shells.

Thick layers of soft sediments have built up even more compared to our previous visits. Over the years, I sense that Beting Bronok has gradually become larger. With 'new' soft silty areas growing on the south-west edge, where seagrasses have started to grow. Since Jun 2025, I noticed the 'stingray' lagoon to the north-west has become shallower.

Seagrasses seem to thrive on this sediment layer and now dominate all parts of the reef. They continue to grow on large areas of the southern tip and elsewhere. All Spoon seagrasses (with most large leaf blades but also some small) grow lush and fresh and green (no epiphytes). I have seen this since Jun 2018. Since our last survey in Jun 2024, I noticed more of them in the lagoon in the middle of the reef flat, today, there are even more. There were also many large patches of Parasol green seaweed.

Thanks to the team for also taking much better photos of the lush seagrasses that have settled on the shore. And the birds that turned up at daybreak to forage on the shore.

Over the years, the reefy patch on Beting Bronok seems to wax and wane. Beting Bronok remains a pale shadow of itself. Here's what Beting Bronok looked like twenty years ago in 2003.

Beting Bronok in 2003.

There used to be a wondrous variety of sea fans.

Sea fans on Beting Bronok in 2004.

Here's more old photos of marine life at Beting Bronok. Lost forever probably are the wonderful Sunflower mushroom corals and other corals that we used to see here.

Where is Beting Bronok? What is its status and future?

When the 2030 landuse plan by the Ministry of National Development was announced, it was also announced that Beting Bronok and Pulau Unum have been granted 'Nature Area' status. As I understand it, this status means the area "will be kept for as long as possible until required for development". Here's an earlier about 'Nature Area' status seem to mean.

Today, we started our survey before dawn. And throughout, there was massive flaring at petrochemical plants at Pengerang Johor. This has been going on for years now. This petrochemical complex that was rejected in Taiwan for environmental and health reasons.

The flaring is so intense, it looks like a 'false dawn'. Real dawn on the left.

We will continue to keep watch over this special little reef and hope for the best.

Photos by others on this survey

Loh Kok Sheng

Jianlin Liu

Tammy Lim

Adriane Lee

Richard Kuah

Jayden Kang

Rui Quan Oh

Zen Xuan He

Dylan Sng

Jason Ooi

Others on this survey: Lester Tan

Two East Coast sites in one super low tide

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:37:28 +0000

On a very early super low tide, a small team surveyed Bedok Jetty AND East Coast Park Sailing Centre. These shores were impacted by the 2024 Pasir Panjang oil spill. It was a relief to see that they remain very much alive.

I returned to a small sand bar in front of a canal for the first time since 2009! And found seagrasses and special snails. I will update with the team observations, as usual, they make all the special finds.

Seems like we only survey Bedok Jetty once every 10 years: in Jun 2013 and Jun 2009. Thanks to Kok Sheng who inspired us to make this survey! Here's a sneak peek at Kok Sheng's photos of the colourful encrustations on the Jetty legs. There were special nudibranchs and cowries as well as crabs. I will update once the rest of the team updates their photos.

While the rest of the team checked out Bedok Jetty, I checked out the sandy shore that grown in front of the canal near the East Coast Lagoon Food Village (Carpark E2). I was last here in 2009. Seems there were major works at the canal in 2021 to 2022, so the marine life I saw today must have settled very recently.

West of the canal, there is a series of sand bag seawalls. These seem to provide a different kind of habitat for marine life, compared to granite seawalls which were covered with oysters. The lowest part of the sand bag seawall had dense growths of red seaweed, and in some places, there were pools of water on the sand bag. There were many small hermit crabs among the seaweeds, and at the base of the sand bags, many small Horn eyed ghost crabs.

The outermost western sand bar had much finer sand than the one directly in front of the canal. I saw some Olive snails that I rare see (conical spire) as well as the commonly seen Weasel olive snail (short spire). There were also some live Button snails (probably emerging from the sand to escape the predatory Olive snails, and some whelks that I seldom see. Also small Horn-eyed ghost crabs, moon crabs and some small Cake sand dollars.

On the seaward side of this sand bar there were dense growths of fresh green Needle seagrass (narrow leaf blades) and Spoon seagrass (large leaf blades). The most abundant animals there were small hermit crabs.

We then flew to the Sailing Centre for the remainder of the low tide. The seagrasses here are doing very well! There were still lots of fresh green seagrass growing along both sides of the long sandbar. Mostly Needle seagrass (both narrow and broad leaf blades) and Spoon seagrass (large leaf blades so dense that the leaves are growing upright). Growths seem denser compared to our surveys in Aug 2024 and Sep 2024 just after the Pasir Panjang oil spill in June. There are now larger patches of both Serrated ribbon seagrass and Noodle seagrass - I first saw these in May 2021 are still there, these two species are not as commonly seen on our shores. I saw one small clumps of Tape seagrass with long leaves and female flowers.

I only checked out the central area of this shore which seems rather quiet. I saw were fewer animals and lower variety than at our last survey in Nov 2024.

But Kok Sheng the Human Climbing Crab documented hard corals and sea fans growing on the seaward side of the seawall! He also saw special snails, the 10-armed feather star with a commensal brittle star. While Jayden found a Cake sea star! Here's a sneak peek compilation of his photos. I will update once the rest of the team updates their photos.

Once again, I notice many very straight narrow furrows in the seagrass. Finally convinced myself they are NOT dugong feeding trails. Probably left by dragging sailing vessels in low water. I saw similar trails near the pontoon at the seawall. I did not see any meandering furrows more typical of dugong feeding trails.

There seems to be a lot less litter collecting on the shores today. Not sure why.

This shore will also be affected by plans for Long Island.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is already happening now. Unintentionally, with zero replanting. Can we plan coastal works to allow reefs, mangroves and seagrasses to naturally regenerate? Naturalise canals leading to the sea for a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves? Imagine what's possible! Reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep, for all in the City to enjoy. More about this idea in my feedback to the Draft Master Plan 2013.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Check out the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 which outlines community recommendations for all these shores. DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

See these and other East Coast shores for yourself. It's fun and easy to explore these shores. More details in "East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family".

What the shore looks like in daylight.

Photos by others on this survey

Loh Kok Sheng

Jayden Kang

Rui Quan Oh

Jason Ooi

Others on this survey: Lester Tan

The entire Serapong surveyed!

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 06:44:33 +0000

One of the best reefs nearer the mainland is found on the undisturbed shore off Serapong Golf Course at Sentosa. These shores were impacted but clearly survived the mass coral bleaching and 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill in 2024 and the 23 tonne diesel leak opposite Sentosa Serapong in 2025.

Special thanks to Leanne from SDC, we got a second look this year to check up on the entire Serapong shore from the causeway bridge to the eastern beacon. In the dark as the tide started at 3am and ended before sunrise! I did the eastern stretch and the corals seem mostly okay. I will update later with the rest of the team's special finds and what they saw on the western stretch.

Updating with observations, especially by the team who checked up the western shore. Kok Sheng documented many larger colonies of corals here including some less commonly seen ones like Acropora corals, Branching horn coral, and clusters of many mushroom corals.

Here's more corals that Kok Sheng saw. Including many clumps of flowery soft coral. Unfortunately, he also saw large Boulder pore corals with bluish-grey freshly dead tissue. Which we also encountered on the Eastern shore.

There were explosions of various kinds of animals especially on the western shore. A great many Diadema sea urchins, forming dense clusters on the reef edge! Lots of Red feather stars festooned corals and sponges. Kok Sheng also documented other feather stars: orangey, white, black and big brown one. The team covering the Western shore saw an explosion of Olive flatworms - not sure why, maybe mating? Elsewhere, we saw the usual flatworms encountered on reefs.

The team on both eastern and western shores saw a wide variety of reef fish, suggesting a healthy shore. From sharks cruising the reef edge (spotted by Jaeden), to tiny frogfish 'waddling' on the sea bottom (by Dylan). There was a lovely closeup of a moray eel (by Rui Quan). Also a very cute juvenile Harlequin sweetlips with comical spots and clumsy swimming. Despite the murky water, a great photo of the Eight-banded butterflyfish (by Zen). And also a seahorse and Nemo in Magnificent anemone (not often seen in this anemone). There were lots of Blue-spotted fantail rays and other small colourful fishes found on healthy reefs.

The team checking up the western shore saw lots of Magnificent anemones, as well as a Snaky anemone. They also saw a Cone snail and special reef crabs. Throughout the shore, there were a lot of octopuses large and small, many Bigfin reef squids, as well tiny pygmy squids catching prey as large as themselves. And a cuttlefish too. The usual reef nudibranchs were seen including one Blue dragon.

I did the eastern shore starting at the beacon. The area between the beacon and the sluice gate still has a patch of densely packed leathery soft coral colonies of various kinds. Pretty much like what I saw when we first started surveying the shore. The enormous leathery soft coral colony that we have been seeing since we first started surveying the shore is still there and seems fine. Some clusters of leathery soft corals were quite large too. Towards the Jetty, there were lots of Spiky flowery soft corals. And many large colonies of Asparagus flowery soft coral - although most seemed rather pinkish and not as purply as usual. I also saw 3 Leathery sea fans. The situation seems similar to our our last survey in Jul 2025.

A good variety of corals were still present. Most were boulder shaped, but there were also many large plate-forming corals all looking healthy without dead patches, as well as many tiny ones - which suggests recruitment on the shore. I saw one large colony of Sandpaper corals which was mostly live and healthy - they are usually the first to bleach. There also a few colonies of special corals like Anchor corals, Boulder horn coral, tiny to small Circular mushroom corals. Although I saw many small healthy Cauliflower coral colonies sprinkled along the shore, I didn't come across fields of them as I did in the past. This is similar to our last survey in May 2025.

Some of the animals seen include a Blue-lined hind spotted by Leanne. There were also 'Nemos' in Giant carpet anemones. Theresa found the Fluted giant clam (nearly 40cm long) and it was fine, although covered with soft corals. As usual, the most abundant echinoderm on the shore remains Red feather stars which hang onto corals at the reef edge. There was also one Brown feather star. Although they are rivaled by the many Diadema sea urchins throughout the reef edge, I saw one with very short spines. The cluster of Magnificent anemones seems to have fewer individuals. Today, it was great to see some medium-sized to large healthy Barrel sponges, including some really small ones - these suffered badly during the mass dying at Serapong in 2018. The situation seems similar to our our last survey in Jul 2025.

There were still many large (2m x 2m) living healthy colonies of Anemone corals, from the reef edge to quite close to the seawall. The large (6m long) cluster of Ridged montipora corals near the Jetty were still there, mostly healthy, only a few with bleaching tips. They are still festooned with lots of Red feather stars. Although the 'field' of Branching montipora corals near the sluice gate was no longer there, I saw a large patch (5m x 5m) from the low water mark to the seawall. Seems to be an improvement for these corals since our last survey in May 2025. Alas, I couldn't see any colonies of Acropora corals near the beacon or opposite the sluice gate. The water was very murky, so maybe I just missed them.

Boulder pore corals are still abundant on the shore, with many large colonies from the reef edge to the seawall. Most were nice and brown with no or hardly any dead patches. But I saw some small ones that were bleaching, and with recently dying tissues (blue-grey and smells bad). Not sure what is going on.

I only saw a tiny cluster of Sickle seagrass at the usual place near the beacon among the leathery soft coral patches. Perhaps the soft corals are overwhelming them? It is a little disconcerting that it's June and the Sargassum hasn't totally died out on Serapong. There are still many 'bushy' patches on the low shore. Not sure what is going on.

What is the fate of Serapong shores?

The Greater Sentosa Master Plan for a transport hub linking Sentosa and Pulau Brani in Keppel Harbour is likely to seriously impact the western stretch of Serapong. Here's what the team saw here in Apr 2026. Once completed, Greater Sentosa is projected to attract about double its current number of visitors, now about 17 million visitors a year.

These shores are also likely to be impacted by the reclamation at Keppel-Tanjong Pagar expected to start end of 2027.

As well as more long term plans such as the Greater Southern Waterfront coastal protection plan - a “continuous line of defence” at the South. Construction is slated to begin in the 2030s.

Photos by others on this survey

Loh Kok Sheng

Zen Xuan He

Rui Quan Oh

Dylan Sng

Tammy Lim

Adriane Lee

Jaeden Lim

Jason Ooi

Others on this survey: Anya, Teresa

Citizen science project on seahorses and pipefishes in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:42:55 +0000

Over the next two years, a citizen science project hopes to learn more about our seahorses and pipefishes. Singapore is home to three species of seahorses – the spotted seahorse, tiger tail seahorse and Japanese seahorse – as well as 19 pipefish species. There are plans for workshops for the public, to teach volunteers how to identify seahorses and photograph them.

The data will give researchers a sense of species loss and whether it is happening in tandem with the country’s coastal development. It is led by senior research fellow Neo Mei Lin from the National University of Singapore’s Tropical Marine Science Institute, in collaboration with Adam Lim, director of Save Our Seahorses Malaysia.

Spotted a seahorse or pipefish in local waters? Singapore researchers want to know
Letitia Chen Straits Times Jun 08, 2026, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – Hidden among seagrass meadows and coral reefs, seahorses and their slender cousins, the pipefish, have gone relatively unnoticed, and not much is known about them locally.

A Singapore marine scientist hopes to change that.

Over the next two years, senior research fellow Neo Mei Lin from the National University of Singapore’s Tropical Marine Science Institute will be heading a citizen science project to uncover more about the diversity and distribution of these elusive creatures in local waters.

The project is funded by Mandai Nature, the conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group, under the Singapore Conservation Impact Grant, where applicants can apply for up to $50,000 for a project spanning more than one year but not more than two years.

From June, researchers will be carrying out reviews of previous research to identify hot spots, as well as working with community partners and nature groups to carry out field surveys.

“We know that these creatures are around on our shores, but we don’t know what species there are and how they are doing,” she said. “Even though seahorses are iconic fish, they are really hard to spot, which results in them being often overlooked.”

The seahorse and pipefish often serve as flagship species for marine conservation because of their iconic features. They are also important predators of organisms at the bottom of the sea.

Singapore is home to three species of seahorses – the spotted seahorse, tiger tail seahorse and Japanese seahorse – as well as 19 pipefish species.

As little is known about them, only six of these fishes received a conservation status on the Singapore Red List, which assesses and classifies local flora and fauna based on the risk of extinction.

The three seahorse species were listed as critically endangered, while the three pipefish species that received a status were listed as vulnerable. Meanwhile, the remaining species of pipefish were determined to be data deficient, which means there is inadequate information to make an informed assessment.

“We don’t have enough ecological data on how many of them are truly out there, how often they reproduce, their survival rates… All these are still knowledge gaps,” said Neo.

She added that the survey will help to give researchers a sense of species loss and whether it is happening in tandem with the country’s coastal development.

“Even though some of these projects may not be near to some of the key habitats of seahorses and pipefish, it may still have a chronic impact on their population,” she said.

“We hope that once we get a better idea of the distribution and ecology of the species and their numbers, we can put them together to build a stronger picture of information that can be used to inform conservation assessments.”

Through this project, Neo said, she hopes to raise more public awareness and excitement about these cryptic creatures, while also getting people involved in helping to look for them.

“There are only so many low tides in a year and places that each of us can go, but with citizen scientists, we can divide and conquer and cover more areas,” she said.

“I’ve seen lots of citizen science volunteers who are really good at finding creatures, and we’re tapping their power to build a stronger database.”

Neo also hopes to create a community of citizen science volunteers, which in turn can help build a longer runway to protect marine biodiversity.

The seahorse and pipefish belong to a family of fish known as syngnathids, which comes from the Greek words for “fused jaw”. All creatures in this family have an elongated snout and an exoskeleton of bony plates that act as armour instead of scales.

Syngnathids also have a unique method of reproduction, where males will carry and incubate the eggs laid by females until they are ready to hatch.

The project was developed in collaboration with Adam Lim, director of Save Our Seahorses Malaysia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to seahorse research and marine conservation in the neighbouring country.

“Adam and I also wanted to see if there’s potential to have a stronger regional partnership and collaboration, so that we’re not studying in silos but also building regional relevance,” she said, adding he will be helping with seahorse identification workshops later in 2026.

Neo, who is a giant clam expert, began research work on these massive molluscs in 2006 to better understand their threats and how to save them. She also encountered seahorses on her surveys and worked with marine conservation organisation Project Seahorse.

“I feel there’s so much I’ve learnt from working with giant clams that I can take what I’ve learnt and apply it to a different animal, and hopefully build a similar conservation programme to raise awareness,” she said.

Moving forward, she hopes to start workshops for the public, including teaching volunteers how to identify seahorses and photograph them, as well as the safety considerations.

While syngnathids are masters of camouflage, members of the public should be mindful of proper etiquette when visiting coastal habitats, such as treading carefully and refraining from touching, chasing or removing marine creatures from their habitat.

“To further marine conservation, citizen science efforts are very valuable,” Neo said.

“It can bring on board people who do not have prior training to work along with scientists, and get them to understand and become capable of collecting data and appreciating it.”

Dead dugong spotted at Bedok Jetty (Jun 2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:29:59 +0000

Identified as a juvenile dugong by Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, the body was found off Bedok Jetty on 6 Jun 2026. The Museum will only extract samples and not the whole carcass due to its highly decomposed state. And the Museum already have the carcass found in 2021 off Pulau Hantu.

Members of the public who spot large marine animals like dugongs, rays and turtles can aid research into them here by submitting their sightings to the Mega Marine Life in Singapore database at this website.

Dead dugong spotted at Bedok Jetty; first recorded sighting since 2021
Ang Qing, Straits Times Jun 06, 2026, 10:30 PM

SINGAPORE – A dead dugong was found floating in the waters off Bedok Jetty on June 6, marking the first local record of the marine mammal since 2021.

Republic Polytechnic student Jeremy Mark Ang, 19, was fishing at the popular East Coast Park spot with friends when they spotted a large, pale shape bobbing in the water at about 4.50pm.

Initially mistaking it for a big fish, the group was shocked to realise it was the bloated carcass of a dugong – a marine mammal that is considered to be critically endangered here. Ang estimated it to be 2m long.

Also known as sea cows, dugongs are elusive creatures that typically graze on seagrass meadows. They are classified globally as vulnerable to extinction as they are particularly susceptible to human threats because of their long lifespans and slow reproduction rates.

“I really couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. It was quite sad because I know that they’re really rare, both in Singapore and in general,” Ang said.

He added that he felt even worse when he saw what appeared to be plastic wrapped around the animal’s abdomen and tail.

A few children unsuccessfully tried to pull the carcass closer using fishing hooks, he recalled.

The dugong eventually washed ashore and was discovered farther along the East Coast Park beach by passers-by Saachi Iyer and Naina Dadlani at about 7.30pm.

Marcus Chua, a mammal curator at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, identified the animal as a juvenile. Before this, the last known record of the species in Singapore was another carcass found off Pulau Hantu in 2021.

“Dugong sightings or strandings are rare in Singapore, and it is rather unfortunate as we would rather see them alive on our shores,” Chua said.

Excluding those which have inconclusive autopsy findings, dugongs that need help or are found dead in Singapore tend to be linked to vessel strikes and entanglement with fishing gear, said Sirius Ng, a dugong researcher at NUS.

He noted that calves account for a majority of such records here, mirroring a concerning global trend.

“Increased calf stranding rates have been observed in dugong populations throughout South-east Asia and the Arabian Gulf,” he added.

To glean more information from the carcass, Chua said samples had been extracted with the help of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. These samples will be preserved for research at the museum.

However, the museum will not be recovering the rest of the animal’s remains.

Said Chua: “Because we have the recent specimen from 2021 and due to the highly decomposed state of this one, we will not be salvaging the carcass.”

In January, the National Parks Board said it was drawing up an advisory that informs developers on ways to avoid harming marine mammals that frequent Singapore’s coastal waters.

Members of the public who spot large marine animals like dugongs, rays and turtles can aid research into them here by submitting their sightings to the Mega Marine Life in Singapore database at this website.

Lianhe Zaobao features Marina Bay mangroves

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:01:29 +0000

In response to Lianhe Zaobao, Dr. Karen, Senior Director of the National Biodiversity Centre of the National Parks Board, said that the authorities are aware of this mangrove forest and conducted an on-site inspection in March this year. The authorities will study the mangrove forest in conjunction with relevant agencies when assessing development plans for the area.

Muhd Nasry, Executive Director of the Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, said, “While this mangrove forest is smaller compared to the vast mangroves of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, it’s truly amazing to see it." Nasri said that with the upcoming development of coastal protection facilities, it is crucial to arrange for engineers to conduct on-site inspections. "How to strike a balance between construction projects and maintaining biodiversity, and even fulfilling the function of seawall protection, are all issues that need to be discussed."

Google translate of the original article
滨海东填海地自然长出红树林为长岛生态规划提供参考
by Huang Yinchuan Lianhe Zaobao June 1, 2026, 18:00

AI summary

Mangroves have naturally grown on the reclaimed land in Binhai East, providing a reference for the ecological planning of Changdao Island.
Mangroves have naturally grown on the reclaimed land east of the coast, including the critically endangered *Avicennia marina* and the rare *Avicennia galbana*.
These mangroves have formed a complete ecosystem without human intervention, providing habitat for mud lobsters, hermit crabs, and other organisms.
Environmentalists believe this phenomenon provides an ecological reference for the Long Island Project, demonstrating that artificial coastlines can become natural regeneration hotbeds.
The mud lobster mounds confirm the mangroves' maturity, and experts are calling for engineering plans to consider both biodiversity and shoreline protection functions.
The National Parks Board has inspected the area and will collaborate on assessing the feasibility of mangrove conservation in its development planning.

Mangroves, including critically endangered species, have naturally grown on the reclaimed land of Marina East, a surprising development. Environmentalists believe this offers valuable insights for the Long Island Reclamation Project on the east coast, demonstrating that with the right conditions, a vibrant mangrove forest can be created.

Ria Tan, 65, founder of the conservation website WildSingapore, told Lianhe Zaobao that the area was a sandy, vegetation-free beach after reclamation, but now it's different. Tan said, "After reclamation, no one planted anything, no one fertilized it, no one deliberately landscaped it, yet the mangroves grew on their own and developed into an ecosystem."

For the past 20 years, Chen Liya has frequently patrolled the local coastline during low tide. She speculates that the heat- and drought-resistant casuarina trees were the first to grow on this sandy land. However, as seawater continued to seep in, the casuarina trees, which could not withstand the salinity of the seawater, gradually withered away, while mangrove plants, which could adapt to the brackish water environment, took root and expanded, forming the scene of casuarina trees surrounding mangroves that we see today.

Chen Liya said that last December, a friend who also cares about nature discovered this newly formed mangrove forest on Binhai East, which delighted other environmentalists, who flocked to explore it.

Although the mangrove forest is not large, its ecosystem is complete, and it is home to animals such as mud lobsters, hermit crabs, and other crabs.

Chen Liya said that this newly formed ecosystem, created naturally without human intervention, is precious, conveying an important message: "Given the right conditions, artificial coastlines can become a breeding ground for mangroves to re-establish themselves; nature will find its own way to return."

"This provides a reference for Singapore's future Long Island plan. If space for biological growth is consciously reserved during the planning stage, we may see mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass coexisting on the coastline in the future."

The artificial island "Long Island" will be built on reclaimed land off the coast of East Coast Park. According to the plan, Long Island will consist of three reclaimed areas, with a higher elevation than the existing coastal area. It will extend from the Marina Barrage to the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, parallel to East Coast Park, with a total length of approximately 18 kilometers and an area of approximately 800 hectares, equivalent to two Marina Bays.

Rare mangrove species and mud lobsters confirm a mature ecological environment. The Lianhe Zaobao recently accompanied the environmental organization "Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity" to this newly formed mangrove forest on Marina East.

It is said that this area is home to critically endangered mangrove species, such as the ovary-leaved mangrove (Sonneratia ovata, Malay: Gedabu), previously found only in a few locations such as Pulau Ubin and the Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve. These trees can grow up to 20 meters tall, with large, petalless flowers composed of numerous white stamens clustered into a powderpuff shape. The ovary-leaved mangrove's flowers bloom for only one night, emitting a yogurt-like scent that attracts bats and nectarbirds.

Another rare species is the sea lily (Bruguiera sexangula, Malay: Tumu Berau) with orange flowers. This plant was once thought to be extinct in the area until it was rediscovered in 2005. Two wild sea lilies are found each on Pulau Tekong and the Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserve, while others have been replanted on Pulau Ubin in Che Java and Pasir Ris Park. These plants can grow to 12 to 30 meters tall, with thick, opposite leaves, and rely on birds for pollination.

Here you can also find the water daphne (Pemphis acidula, Malay: Mentigi), a small, multi-branched shrub that is relatively rare locally. It usually grows in rocky or coral debris areas, is extremely tolerant of harsh environments, and has been found in Changi and St. John's Island.

Muhd Nasry, Executive Director of the Singapore Youth Biodiversity Voice, said, “While this mangrove forest is smaller compared to the vast mangroves of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, it’s truly amazing to see it like this after so many years of neglect and oblivion. Hermit crabs, snails, and mudskippers also inhabit the mangroves.”

Here you can see mud towers built by mud lobsters, a feature typically found only in mature mangroves. After building their towers from mud and silt, the mud lobsters dig underground, creating burrows; these underground tunnels and burrows resemble “HDB flats,” with each level potentially becoming a habitat for other small creatures such as snakes, crabs, and fish.

Nasry explained, “The presence and size of the mud lobster towers are one indicator of mangrove maturity. The towers here are relatively small, but just their presence here is remarkable.”

Nasri said that with the upcoming development of coastal protection facilities, it is crucial to arrange for engineers to conduct on-site inspections to understand whether the mangroves will damage the seawall, and whether the mangroves extending into the seawall will cause it to crack. "How to strike a balance between construction projects and maintaining biodiversity, and even fulfilling the function of seawall protection, are all issues that need to be discussed."

In response to inquiries from Lianhe Zaobao, Dr. Karen, Senior Director of the National Biodiversity Centre of the National Parks Board, said that the authorities are aware of the mangrove forest along the eastern coastline of Marina Bay and conducted an on-site inspection in March this year. The authorities will study the mangrove forest in conjunction with relevant agencies when assessing development plans for the area.

====end of article======

We surveyed this larger patch of mangroves at Marina East in Apr 2025, which Arjun Sai Krishnan first explored in Dec 2025. I was excited to share with them what we saw on our survey in Feb 2026.

A healthy patch of mangroves had settled naturally here. From tiny saplings among the cracks in the seawall to huge trees behind the artificial seawall and reclaimed land. We found a few more rare mangroves in addition to those we saw on our previous survey. Mangrove nerds were highly over stimulated. The rest of the team documents birds, fish and other wildlife that have also settled here.

The area we surveyed is in the yellow circle.

Mangroves on this artificial shore seems to be quite resilient and has survived massive development as well as the Pasir Panjang oil spill and other impacts. Looking at Google Earth over the years, it seems there was always a wild patch in that area since 2007, remaining there despite the massive works in the area through the decades. To me, it seems the area became more conducive to mangrove settlement after the jetty was constructed in 2014. This created an 'elbow' and a small beach on the eastern most end of the seawall.

The mangroves and seagrasses on this artificial shore have returned after every massive coastal works. These are the mangroves I saw near the Marina Barrage in 2008. Growing on the western most end in the seawall. These were lost due to works for the MCE.

What is the fate of this shore?

Massive reclamation is planned near the area we surveyed today as outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review. From Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Marina Bay.

This shore will also be affected by plans for Long Island, the 800ha reclamation off the East Coast.

Other shores surveyed (May 2026)

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Besides the main surveys, the team split up on some dates to also guide. To take advantage of the very few super low tides during daylight! Many team members visited various parts of Changi. Other shores visited on this tide include Pasir Ris and Sentosa Tg. Rimau.

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

People don't believe me when I say, Changi is among the best shores to see a wide variety of nudibranchs. No need to dive! Here's photos of recent sightings by the team, mostly by our nudi whisperer Jianlin who visited in April. Love the photo of the big orgy of Jorunna nudis complete with laid egg ribbons and chomped up sponges. Also, a new Singapore record of Limenandra fusiformis, many colourful slugs and flatworms too.

It's a relief to know there are still manysea stars on this shore which is so well visited and facing heavy boat traffic. Knobbly sea stars large and medium sized were seen, as well as a variety of other sea stars.

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

Other exciting observations include a super tiny frogfish, octopus and her eggs laid inside an empty Noble volute shell. The mama octopus constantly guards her eggs literally with her life, often dying of starvation in the end. Another special sighting was of 6-8 Blood spotted swimming crabs (Portunus sanguinolentus) which so far, the team has only seen once on the intertidal at Kusu Island. There were also other special crabs and a spearer mantis shrimp. As well as interesting fishes including a cusk-eel, which we usually only commonly see in the South.

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

Other shores visited on this tide include Pasir Ris and Sentosa Tg. Rimau.

Volunteers from Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity brought SPS Goh Hanyan to Pulau Hantu (5 May) and Cyrene (21 May). Where she saw for herself how mangroves can thrive alongside man-made coastal protection structures such as seawalls, highlighting how nature-based solutions can complement engineered measures. And how coastal protection measures can be thoughtfully designed to integrate existing recreational uses like intertidal walks, fishing and diving, ensuring these spaces remain accessible and enjoyable for the public.

Photos from SPS Goh's post.

On 20 May, Zen Xuan He and I supported a walk with about 40 PSC scholars at Kusu Island. So they could see for themselves how corals are thriving less than half an hour away from the Central Business District. Full of interesting marine life like Knobbly sea star, Upside down jellyfish and crabs - thanks to Zen for finding and sharing about them.

Followed by a visit to the Marine Park Public Gallery at the St John's Island National Marine Lab. Where we learned about the exciting 100k corals project from Dr Lionel Ng. Quite amazing to see the work on cultivating coral fragments to plant out onto our shores.

We sure managed to cover a lot of ground this last cycle of low spring tides!
Photo albums SPS Goh Hanyan's visit to Pulau Hantu (5 May) and Cyrene (21 May)

Rui Quan Oh surveyed Pasir Ris

Chay Hoon checked out Changi on 19 May

Rui Quan Oh checked out Changi on 17 and 18 May

Zen Xuan He checked out Sentosa in May 2026

Marcus Ng checked out Changi

And Changi again

Zen Xuan He checked out Changi

Jianlin Liu checked out Changi in April (posted in May)

Plans will relocate food farms to 'wrap around' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 26 May 2026 01:16:08 +0000

A change in land use was announced which will concentrate food farms closer to and 'wrapping around' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. There are currently no food farms in this area, which previously was designated for military use and thus served as a buffer to the nature spaces in the Reserve.

What potential impact? Land-based food farms can be highly pollutive, affecting the quality of water that flows through the Reserve and into the Johor Strait, where the fish farms are. We need to monitor closely these plans to move them so close to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

When will this happen? When will this happen? Affected farms will be allowed to remain on site until their land tenures expire, ranging from 2026 to the mid-2030s.

Seng Choon egg farm to move after land-use changes announced for Lim Chu Kang; four other farms affected
The lease for Seng Choon Farm, one of the three egg farms in Singapore, will expire in 2036 and it is working on finding a new site to move into before that.
Natasha Ganesan Channel NewsAsia 25 May 2026 05:00PM

SINGAPORE: Seng Choon egg farm will move out of its current premises after the government announced on Monday (May 25) land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang.

Besides Seng Choon, four other farms are also affected by the changes.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), National Parks Board (NParks) and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said in a joint media release on Monday that to optimise land use, the land to the north of Lim Chu Kang that is currently designated for defence will be reallocated for future agricultural developments.

The southern part of Lim Chu Kang, where the five farms are, will be repurposed for defence uses.

"The land-use changes will allow the government to explore how the physical co-location of food and non-food farms to the north of Lim Chu Kang could benefit from shared facilities and integrated infrastructure planning for more efficient operations, better logistics and to lower production costs," the authorities said.

"In addition, the land-use changes will result in contiguous land that will better serve defence uses."

Seng Choon egg farm's managing director Koh Yeow Koon told CNA it is working with the authorities on finding a new site. Its lease expires in 2036.

At present, there are no food farms in the north of Lim Chu Kang. SFA said the land-use changes will progressively commence after the farms' licence tenures expire.

AFFECTED FARMS

Apart from Seng Choon Farm, other affected farms are Bollywood Farms, Gan Aquarium, Gallop Kranji Farm Resort and Malaysian Feedmills Farms.

Bollywood Farms and Gan Aquarium have leases expiring in December 2026, while Gallop Kranji Farm Resort's lease expires in March 2027. The lease of Malaysian Feedmills Farms ends in 2037.

All affected farms were informed early for clarity and to give them sufficient lead time to plan their business and operations, said the authorities in response to CNA's queries.

The three farms with leases/tenancies expiring in December 2026 and March 2027 were notified since 2020 that no further lease renewals would be granted, they added.

"The remaining two farms with leases expiring in 2036 and 2037 have also been provided with at least 10 years’ advance notice ahead of their lease expiry."

CNA has asked SFA if Seng Choon and Malaysian Feedmills Farms would be given lease extensions if requested.

Seng Choon is one of three egg farms in Singapore. SFA said it is working closely with the farm to support its operations and minimise disruptions, and to safeguard the supply of locally produced eggs and Singapore's "broader food security".

Mr Koh said the farm would complete its lease in September 2036 and is working with the relevant authorities for a new farm site to move into.

"Starting with a blank slate will allow us to integrate the latest technologies, innovation, and sustainability initiatives into the future of our farm," he added.

Singapore’s three egg farms produced 736.7 million eggs in 2025, down from 773.5 million the year before.

According to its website, Seng Choon Farm moved into its current 36-acre farm site in the agricultural estate of the Lim Chu Kang Agrotechnology Park in 2010 from its former premises at Sungei Tengah Road. The farm produces more than 200 million eggs annually.

Also read:

Bollywood Farms is operating on a site that was originally awarded through a public tender for a 20-year lease that expired in 2021.

Following the lease expiry and at Bollywood Farms' request, the government granted it short-term tenancy extensions on a "goodwill basis to facilitate its transition".

The first extension granted was from Apr 15, 2021, to Dec 31, 2023, and a second extension granted was from Jan 1, 2024, to Dec 31, 2026.

"Such requests for extension are considered carefully on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as land use plans, operational considerations, and the lessee’s transition plans. In this case, the extensions granted were intended to facilitate the farm’s transition," said SFA.

"Bollywood Farm has since requested ... a further tenancy extension and we are considering the request carefully."

Affected farms may continue to remain onsite until their tenures expire, after which the land will be returned to the government for consolidation. There will be no early termination of leases, said the authorities.

Farms that wish to continue operations can participate in SFA's annual Singapore Agri-space Sales programme, where agricultural land and sea spaces are released through open tenders.

Non-food farms such as plant nurseries can opt for NParks' land tenders.

"The government is engaging and working closely with affected farms to support a smooth transition and ensure continuity of local agriculture uses," the authorities said.

SFA added that the impact on affected farms is "not expected to have a material effect" on Singapore's overall food supply, and that the 2035 local production targets have taken into consideration the long-term land use and transition plans in Lim Chu Kang.

The government revised its food production goals in November 2025, with new targets being for local farms to supply 20 per cent of the local consumption of fibre and 30 per cent of the local consumption of protein by 2035.

The land use changes are also part of the Lim Chu Kang Masterplan, which seeks to optimise the limited land area for food production and at the same time, transform Lim Chu Kang into an agri-food zone.

"The land use changes are part of this planning process. Given the scale and complexity of the development, the implementation will be phased over time and need to be carefully assessed," said SFA.

SFA will also be embarking on a technical and feasibility study for a multi-tenanted facility to test-bed new ideas that can be applied in Lim Chu Kang.

"As a small island nation, Singapore's limited land requires careful planning to meet national needs, including housing, national defence, jobs, infrastructure and food production," said the authorities.

"Strategic land use changes are necessary to optimise our scarce land resources to meet evolving national needs and ensure Singapore's continued growth and development."

DEFENCE USE

MINDEF said in response to CNA's queries that the land-use change has increased the terrain capacity for military training.

"This will enhance training realism, support combined arms training across a wider range of training scenarios, and improve contiguity for platform operations – resulting in more effective training and operational readiness," it added.

Beyond that, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps in the area are not affected.

The defence ministry began the process of taking over the land parcels in the north of Lim Chu Kang in late 2025, as they were earmarked for defence use.

"As we facilitate this change in land use, we will work with SFA and relevant agencies to handover the land parcels in the Lim Chu Kang north and take over the land parcels in Lim Chu Kang south when the farm leases expire," it said.

The ministry will start repurposing the land at Lim Chu Kang south after it takes over. This will be done in phases, following the end of the leases or tenancy of the farms in the area, it said.

Farmland south of Lim Chu Kang to be zoned for defence, land further north to be used for agriculture
Shabana Begum Straits Times May 25, 2026, 05:00 PM

SINGAPORE - Agricultural land south of Lim Chu Kang will be zoned for defence use in the near future, and military land in the north, closer to other farms, will be reallocated for future farming use.

Concentrating farmland in the north of the area will advance development of an agri-food hub that has faced delays since it was announced in 2020 under the Lim Chu Kang masterplan.

The land-use changes were announced on May 25 by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the National Parks Board and the Singapore Land Authority.

“(This) will allow the Government to explore how the physical co-location of food and non-food farms to the north of Lim Chu Kang could benefit from shared facilities and integrated infrastructure planning for more efficient operations, better logistics and to lower production costs,” the organisations said.

Affected farms in the south may continue to remain on site until their land tenures expire, after which the land will be returned for consolidation for military use. The tenure expiry dates range from 2026 to the mid-2030s.

Five farm leaseholders currently occupy the southern plots in Neo Tiew Lane and Neo Tiew Road: Seng Choon Farm, Bollywood Farms, Gan Aquarium Fish Farm, Gallop Kranji Farm Resort and Malaysian Feedmills Farms, which has multiple agricultural tenants on its plot.

The government agencies added that there will be no early termination of leases.

Affected farms that wish to continue operations when the re-zoning takes effect have to bid for agricultural land, as it is not guaranteed they will be relocated to the northern plot.

The government agencies said Singapore’s 2035 local production targets – which include producing 20 per cent of the country’s consumed fibre by that date – have taken into account the land use and transition plans in Lim Chu Kang.

“The impact on affected farms is not expected to have a material effect to our overall food supply,” they added.

The leases for Bollywood Farms and Gan Aquarium will expire in December 2026, and Gallop Kranji Farm Resort’s lease will expire in March 2027.

They were notified since 2020 that no further tenure renewals would be granted, said SFA.

The leases for Seng Choon – one of three egg farms in the country – and Malaysian Feedmills Farms will expire in 2036 and 2037 respectively, and they were given at least 10 years’ notice ahead of their lease expiry.

“All affected farms had been informed early, to provide clarity and enable them to have sufficient lead time for business and operational planning,” added the agencies.

SFA added that it is working closely with the egg farm to support its operations and minimise disruptions to safeguard the supply of locally produced eggs and Singapore’s broader food security.

Local egg farms’ productivity has been more consistent than those of aquaculture and high-tech vegetable farms.

Seng Choon managing director Koh Yeow Koon said the egg farm was hoping to stay on in Neo Tiew Road beyond 2036 to make the best use of its investments in the latest farming technologies.

“With the lease decay, these investments would become harder to make. We are disappointed that the lease could not be extended,” he added. The farm is currently working with the authorities to find a future site.

While Bollywood Farms’ 20-year lease expired in 2021, the Government granted two short-term tenancy extensions “on a goodwill basis to facilitate its transition”.

The latest extension expires on Dec 31, 2026.

“Bollywood Farms has since requested a further tenancy extension and we are considering the request carefully,” added SFA.

The organisations said the changes in land use announced on May 25 are part of the planning process for the Lim Chu Kang masterplan.

In 2020, SFA said about 390ha of land in the area, which stretches from near Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to the south of Lim Chu Kang, will come under a masterplan to create a “high-tech, highly productive and resource-efficient agri-food cluster”.

It was later reported in 2024 that developmental work for the masterplan, which was to begin that year, was delayed.

With more land zoned for agriculture in the north, it is unclear how the masterplan’s profile will change.

“SFA is advancing the Lim Chu Kang masterplan through interagency planning and assessment on land use optimisation, infrastructure needs and environmental considerations, including coastal protection,” said the organisations.

The masterplan will also study infrastructure requirements for non-food farms such as ornamental fish farms and nurseries.

To test new ideas that could be applied under the masterplan, SFA will be embarking on a technical and feasibility study on a multi-tenant facility where multiple types of farms can operate under one roof and share resources, which can help reduce their production costs.

The agency is conducting market-sensing and technical studies to evaluate which concepts and ideas should be pursued.

Gallop Kranji Farm Resort’s deputy director Mani Shanker was hoping that the lease could be renewed until 2030 at least, and is currently evaluating the resort’s future plans after 2027.

“We remain open to exploring possible opportunities, including participating in future tenders if suitable options arise, or assessing alternative locations depending on feasibility and operational considerations,” said Mrs Shanker.

“Relocating a resort and recreational facility is definitely not an easy process. There are significant investment and reinstatement costs involved, as well as the challenge of rebuilding infrastructure, customer base and business continuity at a new site,” she added.

MINDEF began the process of taking over the land parcels in the northern plot in Lim Chu Kang Lane in late 2025.

Converting the southern plot for military use ensures contiguous land that will better serve defence uses, said the agencies.

Tengah Air Base and Murai Camp are located nearby.

“The change in land use also increases the terrain capacity for MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces’ training,” added MINDEF.

“This will enhance training realism, support combined arms training across a wider range of training scenarios, and improve contiguity for platform operations – resulting in more effective training and operational readiness.”

Government to implement land-use change in Lim Chu Kang
Joint media release 25 May 2026

The Government will be implementing land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang. These changes arise from ongoing reviews of land use to meet Singapore’s evolving needs. To better optimise land use, the land to the north of Lim Chu Kang that is currently designated for defence will be reallocated for future agricultural developments, while the southern part of Lim Chu Kang will be repurposed for defence uses.

Benefits of Consolidating Land Uses

2 As a small island nation, Singapore's limited land requires careful planning to meet national needs including housing, national defence, jobs, infrastructure, and food production. Strategic land use changes are necessary to optimise our scarce land resources to meet evolving national needs and ensure Singapore’s continued growth and development.

3 Growing food locally remains an important pillar of our Singapore Food Story 2, complementing the other pillars of diversifying import, stockpiling, and global partnerships to ensure overall food resilience.

4 The land-use changes will allow the government to explore how the physical co-location of food and non-food farms to the north of Lim Chu Kang could benefit from shared facilities and integrated infrastructure planning for more efficient operations, better logistics and to lower production costs. In addition, the land-use changes will result in contiguous land that will better serve defence uses.

Supporting Affected Farms

5 Five farm site lessees will be affected by the land-use changes. The leases of two farms will expire in the mid-2030s. The leases/tenancies of the remaining three farms will expire in December 2026 and March 2027, and agencies have notified them since 2020 that no further lease renewals would be granted. A map of the affected farm plots and an indicative location of proposed agriculture area to the north of Lim Chu Kang is provided in ANNEX.

6 Affected farms may continue to remain onsite until the expiry of their tenures, after which the land will be returned for consolidation. There will be no early termination of leases. Farms that wish to continue operations have the option of participating in Singapore Food Agency (SFA)’s annual Singapore Agri-space Sales (SAS) programme or the National Parks Board (NParks)’ land tenders.

7 The Government is engaging and working closely with affected farms to support a smooth transition and ensure continuity of local agriculture uses.

ANNEX: Map of the affected farm plots and indicative areas for proposed agriculture areas

Issued by Singapore Food Agency, Ministry of Defence, National Parks Board, Singapore Land Authority
25 May 2026

Three farms affected by Lim Chu Kang land-use changes seek lease extensions as expiry dates draw near

Two farm owners questioned why they have to leave within the next year, when two other farms will still be operating in the same area for at least another 10 years.

Natasha Ganesan Channel NewsAsia 01 Jun 2026 06:00AM

SINGAPORE: With less than a year to go until their leases expire, three farms in Lim Chu Kang are fighting for a chance to extend their tenures and hold on to their land.

These farms – Bollywood Farms, Gan Aquarium and Gallop Kranji Farm Resort – are hoping that their leases can be extended for at least three more years to keep running the businesses they poured decades of work into.

"I know the authorities have given enough time, we understand all that," said Gallop Kranji Farm Resort founder Mani Shanker.

"But what we're merely asking is … from the time our lease finishes to the time of the cut-off point that they have to hand over the land, I think this space is something that they should look at allowing us to continue," he added.

"I think everybody in the farm will also agree that this little extension plays a very, very important part for us."

The three farms are currently situated in the southern part of Lim Chu Kang, which will undergo land-use changes, the government announced last Monday (May 25).

The government will repurpose the southern part of Lim Chu Kang for defence uses, while the land to the north of Lim Chu Kang that is currently designated for defence will be reallocated for future agricultural developments.

Bollywood Farms and Gan Aquarium have leases until December 2026, while Gallop Kranji Farm Resort has a lease until March 2027.

Another two farms are also affected: Seng Choon egg farm and Malaysian Feedmills Farms. But these have a longer runway, with leases expiring in 2036 and 2037, respectively, allowing them to continue operating for at least another 10 years.

Authorities said on Monday that all affected farms were informed early for clarity and to give them sufficient lead time to plan their business and operations.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA), one of the authorities involved in the land-use changes, noted that the three farms with leases/tenancies expiring over the next year were notified since 2020 that no further lease renewals would be granted.

At least two of those farms questioned the need to move out within the next year, given that Seng Choon and Malaysian Feedmills Farms would still be operating in the same area for at least a decade.

At present, there are no food farms in the north of Lim Chu Kang.

LEASE EXTENSIONS

Mrs Ivy Singh-Lim, who owns Bollywood Farms with her husband, is appealing for a three-year extension of the lease on the land at 100 Neo Tiew Road, which also serves as their home.

The site was originally awarded through a public tender for a 20-year lease that expired in 2021.

Following the lease expiry and at Bollywood Farms' request, the government granted it two short-term tenancy extensions - from 2021 to 2023 and 2024 to 2026 - on a "goodwill basis” to facilitate its transition.

But Mrs Singh-Lim told CNA she has requested a further tenancy extension as she does not want to leave her house that has been adapted to suit the needs of her husband, who is wheelchair-bound.

"You look at this house, he can roll around to the front, he can roll to the bedroom. We built a special toilet, he can roll himself to the toilet," Mrs Singh-Lim said.

"The reason I'm appealing for an extension is so that I can live here for another three years. I'll be 80 years old, my husband will be 86 years old, and he's been in a wheelchair for many years.

"So by that time, I think we're ready to move into a retirement home," she said, adding that she has already arranged to relocate to one such place run by a friend.

"We don't have to look for another interim place before we retire to a retirement home."

She is confident that she will get an extension, adding that she has written to her Member of Parliament Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim.

Mrs Singh-Lim told CNA that she will not be moving out until she gets a clear answer on what her land will be used for.

"I don't know what they want to take it back for now. I believe it's for the Ministry of Defence but what is the defence ministry going to do here?" she asked.

"If you don't give me a straightforward answer, I'm not moving. I've told them already, if they really need it for something really serious, I will move," she said.

Asked what she will do if the extension is not granted, she said: "I have no plans. I'm just not going to move out."

Aside from growing vegetables, the farm also hosts educational events for students.

It is a chance for them to experience the countryside, she said. "So I think our government has got to be careful about how many farms they close down," she added.

In response to CNA's queries, SFA said it has received Bollywood Farms' request for a further tenancy extension and is considering the request carefully.

Gallop Kranji Farm Resort's Mr Shanker also pointed to his property being a place for people in Singapore to get away from the city and to get a taste of village life.

It is a resort that combines farmland, with more than 30 tenants, including herb and bird farm owners.

"Singapore needs something like that, a place where kids can understand nature, kids can get closer to animals," said Mr Shanker.

The site Gallop Kranji Farm Resort occupies has a 20-year lease period that will end in March next year. Mr Shanker is hoping the lease can be extended until 2030 at least, before the land is taken over.

"It will be good for the authorities to understand that this is also very important for us to extend to the maximum until you want to take back the land. Don't take it back early and keep it empty," he said.

"Those few years can also be very critical for us to do some business, or give the opportunity for Singaporeans to enjoy what has been set up. Rather than you take it back, and then you keep it empty for three more years," he added.

"(It's) not so much about business, but for the people to enjoy the opportunity for such a place, because it's going to be gone. I don't think we can emulate a place like that anymore, honestly," he said.

Mr Gan Kian Leng, who has been single-handedly running Gan Aquarium for 26 years, was similarly concerned that his land would be left unused before it is officially taken over by the government.

His lease, which is also for 20 years, will expire this December. But he questioned the need to move this year, given that Seng Choon and Malaysian Feedmills Farms will still be operating for at least another 10 years.

"Since Seng Choon (has) another 10 years … why don't let us all carry on?

"We can carry on our business, I can also produce something different," said Mr Gan, who lives on the farm with his elderly parents.

The 72-year-old farm owner breeds red Arowana and Soon Hock fish, or Marble Goby, which he has dedicated years of work to. He said it took him six years to grow and successfully breed his Arowana fish.

He started experimenting with Marble Goby three years ago and was just about to see the results of his work. He believes what he does is important and adds value to Singapore's freshwater fish species.

"I want to do something for the country, for the government. But they don't appreciate me, I cannot say anything," he added.

If no extension is granted, he said he may be forced to close his business.

Authorities said the land-use changes will allow them to explore how the physical co-location of food and non-food farms to the north of Lim Chu Kang could benefit from shared facilities and integrated infrastructure planning.

In response to CNA’s queries, SFA said any requests for further extensions beyond lease or tenancy expiry will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

It will take into account factors such as broader land-use plans, operational considerations and the lessee’s or tenant’s transition plans.

In response to queries on farm owners having to move out earlier, it added: "The different timelines for the phasing out of farms are based on their existing leases and tenancies.

“Redevelopment works have been planned based on these timelines."

The Ministry of Defence said agencies will proceed with the necessary reinstatement works as early as 2030, once sites are returned at the end of the farms' lease or tenancy.

"Any development at the vacated farms shall only take place after reinstatement works and feasibility studies have been completed. This is expected to take place from the 2030s," it added.

Farms that wish to continue operations can participate in SFA's annual Singapore Agri-space Sales programme, where agricultural land and sea spaces are released through open tenders.

Food farms relocating to a new site can apply for the Agri-food Cluster Transformation Fund, which provides co-funding for local farms to adopt farming technologies and upgrade their capabilities. Those who require additional help can contact their account manager in SFA for assistance.

Non-food farms can opt for the National Parks Board's land tenders and tap on the Landscape and Animal Sector Productivity Grant to defray the cost of buying equipment.

LONGER LEASES

The highest profile farm affected by the land-use changes is Seng Choon, one of Singapore's three egg farms. Its lease expires in September 2036, and it is making plans after the news broke on Monday.

"While we were saddened by the situation, we are also excited about this new phase of growth for Seng Choon," said managing director Koh Yeow Koon.

Seng Choon will continue operating at its current site until the end of its tenure, while also working closely with the relevant authorities to secure a new site – ideally at least five years before the lease expires, Mr Koh told CNA.

This will allow sufficient time to ensure a smooth transition, and he does not expect disruptions to operations or egg supply.

He added that the farm had previously discussed with SFA the possibility of extending its lease beyond 2036. The farm has invested about S$3 million (US$2.3 million) over the past three years in artificial intelligence and automation to improve the efficiency of its quality control processes and reduce the physical workload on senior workers.

"While we had hoped for the opportunity to continue at our current site, we appreciate the government’s early notice, which provides us with valuable time to plan ahead in a thoughtful and responsible manner," Mr Koh said.

"Although we have strong emotional and operational ties to this site, we see this transition as an opportunity to design and build an even more advanced and future-ready Seng Choon."

Having a new facility will allow the farm to better integrate emerging technologies such as solar photovoltaics, which convert sunlight into electricity.

The future farm layout will also be built to support advanced AI systems and robotics for greater efficiency, sustainability and long-term growth, said Mr Koh.

"Our shared priority is to ensure continuity for both our customers and our 130 employees throughout this transition," he added.

Mr Koh said the farm appreciates any available government grants that can support its transition and the strong support extended to local farms like itself.

"Given the significant costs involved in relocating and rebuilding our operations, we also look forward to continued partnership and support from the government as we move into this next phase of growth."

Meanwhile, Malaysian Feedmills Farms has no plans at the moment, given that its lease expires in 2037, managing director Saw Chau Hian told CNA. He bought the 13ha land in the late 1980s and rented out plots to tenants.

Today, there are more than 10 farms occupying the land.

Mr Saw, 80, used to do egg farming but stopped about 10 years ago. Now, he focuses his time on a food waste recycling endeavour, where he collects food waste materials with high protein and converts them into fish feed.

"I'm already 80 … quite old already," he said when asked why he had no plans beyond 2037.

Instead, he will use the next 11 years to continue recycling food waste.

"It's a very high-cost hobby," Mr Saw said. "But I think it's very meaningful for society. It can cut costs a lot, maybe cut about half of the cost of feed," he said, adding that less waste is also incinerated.

Mr Aaron Sim, owner of Imperial Arowana Breeding Farm, which occupies a plot at Malaysian Feedmills Farms, was unfazed about the lease expiry.

But the 44-year-old acknowledged there will be challenges in finding a new place because it needs to be big enough for Arowana fish breeding. "It's not just putting in two fish in … it is like humans," said Mr Sim.

"They need to find their own partners, they need to date, and then they pair up. Only then do they start the nest, and then they start laying the eggs. With respect to that, space is an issue."

"It's an impact to us in terms of cost. It's not cheap to maintain a farm," he added.

He plans to continue his operations at the current location until the lease expires, while keeping a lookout for new spaces.

But he is not expecting any extensions, stating that the lease periods are already laid out up front in contracts.

"Lease is up means lease is up. If they give us a lease extension, that's a bonus. It's not something that must be given," said Mr Sim.

Source: CNA/ng(mi)

Signs of recovery from 2024 Pasir Panjang Oil Spill

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 23 May 2026 22:08:38 +0000

Studies suggest there is recovery on shores affected by the 2024 Pasir Panjang Oil Spill.

One of the studies involved 100 citizen scientists, who collected samples from 10 sites including Pasir Ris Beach, Changi Beach, Lazarus Island and St John’s Island for a year. These studies are expected to be completed by end-2026.

Marine life affected by 2024 Pasir Panjang oil spill showing signs of recovery
Claudia Tan Straits Times 16 May 2026

SINGAPORE – When two vessels collided near Pasir Panjang Terminal in June 2024, the resultant oil spill affected marine life, which is showing signs of recovery, a research study found.

Samples collected from St John’s Island and Lazarus Island showed that the amount of oil in the sediments has also decreased.

Initial findings from the study were shared at the National Parks Board’s (NParks) inaugural oil spill management symposium on May 16 at Jurong Lake Gardens.

Titled Building Knowledge, Bridging Stakeholders, it hopes to improve Singapore’s response to such incidents.

Among those who attended were the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, and the ITOPF, a global non-profit which responds to oil, chemical and cargo spills.

Participants discussed oil spill responses, crisis communications and wildlife care.

The 2024 spill was caused by a collision between Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima and Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour. It ruptured one of the latter’s oil cargo tanks, releasing 400 tonnes of oil into the sea.

It was the worst oil spill in Singapore in a decade.

Oil slick washed up on several beaches, including Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa and East Coast Park.

The clean-up operation took more than two months to complete.

Four Dutch crew members were handed fines in April 2025 for failing to discharge their duties properly.

The last major oil spill in Singapore was in 2010, after a tanker and a bulk carrier collided near Changi. About 2,500 tonnes of oil flowed into the sea.

In 1997, close to 28,500 tonnes of oil entered the Singapore Strait after two tankers collided.

Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, who attended the launch on May 16, said several volunteers, public officers and partners helped contain the 2024 incident.

NParks worked with the scientific community and volunteers to assess the ecological impact of affected sites.

Mr Tan said: “While they discovered that there was no significant impact during the preliminary surveys, the longer-term repercussions can unfold.”

Effective oil spill management must go beyond quick responses, and has to be grounded in science, data and long-term mitigation strategies, he said.

Natural recovery

In early 2025, NParks worked with the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML) and the National Institute of Education (NIE) to launch a national monitoring programme to study the recovery of marine diversity and habitats after the incident.

Two studies were rolled out and are slated to be completed by end-2026.

In the first study, researchers from TMSI and SJINML collected samples from Bendara Bay at St John’s Island and Eagle Bay on Lazarus Island quarterly after the accident.

Dr Tan Koh Siang, principal research fellow at TMSI, said his team tracked the amount of oil that remained in the sediment, and found it had reduced significantly.

By November 2025, the oil was undetectable.

Close to 11,000 specimens have been collected, and researchers are studying which species were most affected to determine their recovery patterns.

There was also an increase in the amount of marine life present, said Dr Tan.

The second study, led by NIE, examined the health of marine snails affected by the spill, compared with those found at other beaches the oil did not reach.

The team, which included 100 citizen scientists, collected marine snail samples from 10 sites including Pasir Ris Beach, Changi Beach, Lazarus Island and St John’s Island for a year.

The citizen scientists, who are volunteers, attended a training workshop on biomarker observation. Some collected samples and processed them in the lab.

The study found that marine snails exposed to the oil had worse biomarkers compared with those found elsewhere.

NIE senior lecturer Beverly Goh said the study can be used to monitor changes in marine environmental conditions.

She said: “It’s like when coal miners lower canaries into the mine. When the canary gets stressed, they know there might be a gas leak.

“So, we can do the same thing with these organisms. Once they become abnormal, we can investigate and do something (about it).”

Related blog posts

Pasir Panjang Terminal oil spill (14 Jun 2024) Jun 2024
Pasir Panjang oil spill: media articles on impacts Jul 2024
Launch of 15-month study to assess oil spill impact on marine biodiversity Oct 2024
Recent oil spills discussed in Parliament, 11 Nov 2024 Nov 2024
Repeated oil spills compromise marine life Feb 2025
Oil-eating bacteria as a response to oil spills Oct 2025

More posts about our surveys of the 2024 Pasir Panjang Oil Spill impact.

Other socials about the Symposium

Reefs on Ferry Terminal seawall doing well

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 20 May 2026 23:02:00 +0000

Today, a small team returns to survey the amazing coral reef that has settled naturally on the seawalls of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Lush seagrasses also settled naturally in the artificial lagoon next to the Ferry terminal.

This shore was impacted by mass coral bleaching and the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill in 2024. Today, the corals seem to be getting back to normal, while seagrasses are doing well. We also saw a variety of marine life from signs of otters, to many kinds of sea anemones.

Corals are more obvious when they are bleaching. This is what we saw during mass coral bleaching in Jul 2024, when we estimated about 30% of corals were bleaching outright.

When we surveyed in May 2025, this is what we saw. No more bleaching, although I sensed that there were fewer corals. Many of the coral colonies on the high shore were dead. Seems today, the reef here is coming back to the way it was before the impacts in 2024.

Today on the Ferry Terminal seawall, we saw many healthy, large colonies without any dings or dead parts. Our corals are pretty tough, considering they were affected by the mass coral bleaching AND the Pasir Panjang oil spill in 2024.

Today, as in the past, most of the corals at the Ferry Terminal seawall were boulder shaped of the commonly encountered kind. But there were also some special corals and even a few small colonies of Leathery soft corals and a Leathery sea fan.

Many corals have also settled on the seawall that forms the lagoon next to the Ferry Terminal. Both on the outside seaward side, and also those inside the lagoon. I only had a brief look as those inside the lagoon. Most are boulder shaped species, but there were also many plate-forming species. Similar to our survey in May 2025, many boulder Pore corals were pale brown, and many patches of Zebra coral were very pale. Other kinds of corals were alright.

We saw many otter prints in the lagoon. They must have been there while we were at the seawall, which we surveyed first at the lowest tide. There were also prints of monitor lizards and large shore birds. The rest of the team make the special finds like huge chitons, large cowries, big black sea urchins as well as special hermit crabs. We saw a few Common sea stars, many Cake sand dollars and a Spider conch. Also 2 Snaky sea anemones and many Fire anemones as well as a few carpet anemones (Giant and Haddon's), and Frilly sea anemones.

Today, the seagrass situation in the lagoon is somewhat similar to our last survey in May 2025 and Jul 2024. The big patch of Smooth ribbon seagrass is still huge. One smaller patch is starting to grow as well. Leaves are mostly fresh and green, with many tiny snails and other marine life among them.

The Tape seagrass I saw varied from very short cropped leaves to long ones (30-50cm). I saw three with female flowers. There were still many clumps well distributed throughout the shore.

There seems to be many more patches of Sickle seagrass than in the past, almost the entire length of the shore closer to the seawall. I saw some with cropped leaves, others with very long fresh green leaves. I saw a small patch of Needle seagrass with broad leaves. I saw very few small patches of Spoon seagrass, which in the past was the most abundant species, growing almost throughout the shore.

On the high shore, a narrow line of litter is accumulating - quite 'good' for a shore that is not cleaned daily. This is similar to what we saw in Jul 2024. I am glad to see that there are no longer many single-use water cups, which commonly wash up on beaches along the ferry routes. These cups are not commonly used by beach goers or the local boating or fishing community. But these single-use water cups are apparently given out to passengers on ferries. Perhaps MPA has plugged the gap in ferry trash? I have long been asking MPA to provide facilities at piers/terminals under their charge for vessels to responsibly dispose of trash generated during their operation. More in this post.

There were also large trash impacting corals growing on the seawall. A large piece of plywood was killing a coral colony. We tried to remove it but half of it was buried in the sand and we probably need shovels to get it out.

Where did all these corals come from?

The babies of these corals are from Singapore reefs! This chart shared in the Long-Term Plan Review shows coral larvae (babies) dispersal in our waters from mass coral spawning. This highlights the importance of protecting our 'mother reefs' so that they can continue to produce babies that settle all along our shoreline.

What is the fate of this shore?

Massive reclamation is planned near the area we surveyed today as outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review.

We restarted surveying this shore again in Jun 2022 after a break of nearly ten years. This shore is now strictly off limits without a permit. We surveyed with permission from agencies kindly arranged by NParks and with support from the Ferry Terminal.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is already happening now. Unintentionally, with zero replanting. Can we plan coastal works to allow reefs, mangroves and seagrasses to naturally regenerate? Naturalise canals leading to the sea for a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves? Imagine what's possible! Reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep, for all in the City to enjoy. More about this idea in my feedback to the Draft Master Plan 2013.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Check out the Sinapore Blue Plan 2018 which outlines community recommendations for all these shores. DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

Photos

High-res photos by me on wildsingapore flickr

Photos by others on this survey

Rui Quan Oh

Zen Xuan He

Dylan Seng

Jaeden Lim

Yan Le Su

Others on the survey: Nicholas Yap and SYVB volunteers.

Recovery at coral garden at East Coast Park

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 20 May 2026 04:19:00 +0000

Thanks to Lon, Rui Quan and Dylan for surveying the amazing coral garden that has settled on artificial shores at East Coast Park.

Photo by Lon Voon Ong.

In 2024, this shore was impacted by mass coral bleaching, the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill and the 5tonne Changi East oil overspill. Oil that landed on this shore was not cleaned as thoroughly because it is not a recreational beach. It's a relief to know the corals and seagrasses here seem to have recovered well in such a short time.

The super low tide allows a closer look at the 'elbow' or 'corner' of the seawall that extends out of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, forming a lagoon around the canal that runs next to the East Coast PCN.

Thanks to Lon, who is the only one among our team who can safely walk right to the 'elbow' of the seawall and bring back these amazing views of dense growths of corals there!

How lovely to know some less commonly encountered corals are found here, together with the usual common boulder shaped and plate forming corals.

It's relief to see this recovery because on our survey in Jul 2024, we estimated 90% of the corals were bleaching or highly stressed, with about 50% with dying or with dead portions (greyish colour is rotting tissue which smells bad). On our Oct 2024 survey, 90% were stone cold dead, all plate-forming corals were dead. Even in Jun 2025, we still saw signs of oil on this shore.

Dead and dying corals seen in in Jul 2024

Today, I am amazed by what seems to be new young coral colonies growing on the skeleton of dead ones of the same species. Tiny mushroom corals growing attached around the circumference of a larger dead one - these corals eventually detach and become free-living (unattached to a surface) when they grow bigger. Little plate-forming corals also appear to be growing on the skeleton of a much larger similar coral that is stone cold dead. How amazing!

The huge patch of Branching montipora corals (about 5m x 5m) is surprisingly tough. When we saw it in Jul 2024 at the height of mass coral bleaching and after the oil spill, it was indeed bleaching but only the tips seemed dead. And in Jun 2025, the patch had already totally recovered. It seems perfectly fine today!

Seagrasses seem to be still doing well. With growths at the mouth of the canal, and further out towards the elbow. Most exciting to know the team spotted an Alligator pipefish, which has a prehensile tail to cling onto seagrasses. We used to see a lot of these at Cyrene, then they disappeared when the seagrasses at Cyrene disappeared in 2010. Rui Quan spotted a Dog-faced watersnake! Also seen, an Estuarine moray eel, an octopus, colourful fishes, large cowries and sea anemones.

Special thanks to Lon, Rui Quan and Dylan for surveying this shore. On the same tide, Zen and I were helping NParks guide a special group of people at Kusu Island and a visit to the St John's Island Marine Lab.

Where did these corals come from?

The babies of these corals are from Singapore reefs! This chart shared in the Long-Term Plan Review shows coral larvae (babies) dispersal in our waters from mass coral spawning. This highlights the importance of protecting our 'mother reefs' so that they can continue to produce babies that settle all along our shoreline.

What is the fate of these shores?

These shores lie west of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and are slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review.

This shore will also be affected by plans for Long Island.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is already happening now. Unintentionally, with zero replanting. Can we plan coastal works to allow reefs, mangroves and seagrasses to naturally regenerate? Naturalise canals leading to the sea for a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves? Imagine what's possible! Reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep, for all in the City to enjoy. More about this idea in my feedback to the Draft Master Plan 2013.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Check out the Sinapore Blue Plan 2018 which outlines community recommendations for all these shores. DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

See these and other East Coast shores for yourself!

It's fun and easy to explore these shores. More details in East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family.

This is what the corals looked like during a very low tide in May 2021
before the mass coral bleaching and oil spill impact in 2024.

Photos by the team

Lon Voon Ong

Rui Quan Oh

Dylan Seng

Chek Jawa (South) still alive

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 19 May 2026 07:42:28 +0000

We do our annual low tide check up on the southern area of Chek Jawa near the Beacon, with kind permission and support from NParks.

We find healthy hard corals and soft corals, and sponges and sea fans. The seagrasses were particularly lush and green. I felt today that the southern sand bar had gotten wider, and that sand had built up on the landward side of the sand bar and in the area directly beneath the Beacon. The team make all the special finds: seahorse, stonefish, lots of Knobbly sea stars and more.

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. A seahorse! A large stonefish! Also large colourful fishes and small stingrays. The seagrass meadows are a great nursery for juvenile fish including young barracuda. Little cardinalfish were seen swimming really close to a carpet anemone, a behaviour we have seen on other shores too.

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

The team observed octopuses huge and small, one attempting to catch a pink-speckled shrimp-goby out of its burrow. Spearer mantis shrimps were also spotted. And many different kinds of sea anemones too. Thanks to Samuel for a track of our survey!

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

The team as a whole saw 10 Knobbly sea stars, large ones as well as medium sized ones. They all looked healthy on the upper and underside. Their knobs were intact and they did not have injuries like the Knobblies we saw on Cyrene in Feb 2026. At Cyrene, many of the Knobblies had lost the top five knobs, with injuries that suggest the knobs fell off, rather than being bitten off by predators. We still don't know what happened at Cyrene.

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

Recently, I sensed that we have been seeing much fewer Noble volutes that in the past. So we are now going to document every live Noble volute that we see. As a team, we saw onlyy 5 live volutes at Chek Jawa today. This large beautiful snail is restricted to our part of the world, in particular, Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. We have a duty to protect them. Hopefully, our sightings will help encourage further study into whether the populations on our shores are okay.

Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.

Today, I saw more than 20 small to medium-sized Boulder pore corals near the beacon. Most were nice and brown. This is similar to what I saw in May 2025 and May 2024. I saw one medium Boulder sandpaper coral - only the bottom half was alive. Along the way from House No. 1 jetty to the Beacon, I saw three small colonies of Flowery disk coral (Marcus saw one that was bleaching), and what looks like one dead one. There were also patches of Zebra coral. Marcus saw the small colony of Goniopora corals.

Today, I saw some small to medium sized flowery soft corals of various kinds. This is the first time I've see these since the explosion of Spiky flowery soft corals we saw in Jun 2023. I didn't see a lot of sea fans and only a few clumps of zoanthids. But all soft corals seemed alright.

Today, as at our May 2025 survey, there seems to be more larger healthier clumps of common sponges, compared to our survey in May 2024. But the variety of sponges remains low and I still didn't see any Barrel sponges (the last time I saw these here was in Jun 2023. Much of the coral rubble near the beacon was bare.

Seagrasses are still growing lush and fresh near the Beacon. Smooth ribbon seagrasses are doing very well growing in a large portion of the area between the boardwalk almost all the way to the beacon, as well as even on the sandbar. Spoon seagrasses (large leaves) grew thick and lush, as well as Needle seagrass with broad and narrow leaves. I saw some Fern seagrass. I saw two clumps of Tape seagrass with cropped leaves at the reef edge near the Beacon.

I felt today that the southern sand bar had gotten wider, and that sand had built up on the landward side of the sand bar and in the area directly beneath the Beacon. Will need to wait for Google Earth to update views for this year to see if there has been a change. The latest displayed currently is for 2024.

What is the fate of Chek Jawa?

Chek Jawa and Pulau Sekudu is slated for reclamation in the Long-Term Plan Review. The plan includes a road link (black line) from the mainland jumping off at Punggol, crossing to Pulau Ubin through Chek Jawa to jump off to Pulau Tekong before circling back to the mainland on Changi East. Proposed reclamation (in yellow) will bury Pasir Ris shores, Pulau Sekudu and Chek Jawa as well as a large stretches of Changi Beach.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Among the Proposed Areas for Immediate Conservation Priority, the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 proposes that the intertidal and subtidal marine areas of Pulau Ubin to be designated Marine Reserve.

The proposed area would include Tanjung Chek Jawa, the largest known intertidal area in northern Singapore. Considered one of the richest in Singapore, Chek Jawa comprises many adjacent ecosystems: coastal hill forest, mangrove areas, rocky shores, seagrass meadows, coral communities, and sandy areas. Chek Jawa remains an icon of celebration and hope for many Singaporeans since its reprieve from reclamation in 2001.

DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

Photos

High-res photos by me on wildsingapore flickr

Photos by others on this survey

Rui Quan Oh

Dylan Seng

Marcus Ng

Jason Ooi

Samuel Lau

Others on this survey: Muhd Nasry, Ian Mun.

'Garden of sea fans' at Changi growing lush

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 18 May 2026 06:42:33 +0000

A tiny team survey this 'reefy' part of Changi. It was a relief to see the 'garden' of sea fans are still present here and seem more lush than on our last survey in Apr 2025.

Corals, anemones and other cnidarians seemed alright. And the team spot a variety of interesting marine life!

There were still many large healthy colonies of commonly seen sea fans like Candelabra sea fans and Skinny sea fans, Gnarled sea fans mostly near the boardwalk at Changi Beach Club. Including one nice Asparagus sea fan. We didn't see many near the big rock in the east where we start our survey. Compared to our survey in Apr 25 when most of those on the higher shore were dead, today, we didn't see any recently dead colonies. I saw one ovulid, a snail that eats the sea fan, as well as many small hermit crabs. There were a few small colonies of Pink flowery soft corals, as well as various hydroids commonly seen on Changi.

Sponges were more abundant under the boardwalk at Changi Beach Club. Not a huge variety, but well-formed clumps. Many larger clumps of Purple branching sponge, and small ball-shaped clumps. Melted chocolate sponge still dominated - most seemed nice and shiny. There were also many bivalve shells under the boardwalk, not sure what happened.

Today Zebra corals continue to dominate the rocky areas, covering almost every hard surface at the low water mark. I saw a few Neat hexa coral but didn't see any Flowery disk coral which we saw on our last survey in Apr 2025. They seemed mostly alright. Changi shores are usually rich in echinoderms. We saw several 8-armed Luidia sea stars, a large Garlic bread sea cucumber, some Orange sea cucumbers, Blue feather stars and many Sponge synaptid sea cucumber. Lester spotted a pair of Coastal horseshoe crabs.

Along the eastern shore towards the boardwalk at Changi Beach Club, a narrow but lush band of Spoon seagrass with large leaf blades is growing. At the western most lagoon, there remained patches of Spoon seagrass. There were many Haddon's carpet anemones, some flowery sea pens and common ceriathigs, but no sea fans. Button zoanthids used to form large 'fields' at the western most part of this shore are returning among the seagrasses. The area under the jetty was almost clear of encrustations, similar to the situation in Apr 2025 and Jul 2024.

The mangrove trees that have settled on the seawall there are growing well and are now quite tall. The small Johor fig treelet growing on a big rock nearby is still alright! There was a huge Johor fig in the lagoon that fell over in May 2021, possibly due to slope failure. By Apr 2025, there were few pieces of the dead tree left, today, even fewer. I had a closer look at the plants growing on the high shore and it seems there is Dugun (Heritiera littoralis) considered Endangered. It has fallen horizontally but was still alive. There was also a large shrub with bright white berries, I haven't figured out what it is.

There was large trash on the high shore. And I saw a large abandoned fish trap on the low shore. There was nothing in the trap. I made sure the 'door' to trap was open and facing up so if any animals were to be trapped they can escape.

Segments of the boardwalk over the water are often completely taken over by fishermen who lay fishing rods, traps and lines in dense numbers. This also happens on other boardwalks. Here's some letters from the public about the conflict between fishermen and others on the boardwalks at Berlayar Creek, Changi and Punggol. Read more about how coastal boardwalks can do more harm than good. Today, there was very little fishing activity on the boardwalk over the water. Perhaps the recent wet weather have discouraged this activity.

Yellow arrows point to lines in the water attached to traps.
These lines are placed on both sides of the boardwalk.

What is the fate of these shores?

There doesn't seem to be a change in 2013 plans to reclaim all of Pasir Ris, all of Changi from Carpark 1 to Carpark 7 and beyond, and reclaim Chek Jawa and Pulau Sekudu. These appear to remain in place in the Long-Term Plan Review. Including plans for a road link that starts at Pasir Ris, crosses to Pulau Ubin, right across Chek Jawa to Pulau Tekong, and back to the mainland at Changi East.

Photos by others on this survey

Rui Quan Oh

Also on this survey: Lester Tan.