wild shores of singapore

EIA on impacts to Helios Secondary Reef questioned

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:51:00 +0000

Experts and nature groups raised questions about the rigour of the environmental study, pointing to how the report’s conclusion on impact to corals was based not on field surveys, but from a study that could now be outdated.

Ms Rachael Goh, co-lead of land use planning at environmental group LepakInSG, pointed out that the coral community composition could have changed over the past 14 years. “While the Helios Secondary Reef is located far away from the canal outlet, corals could have established on the sea walls nearer to the outlet. The thing is, we wouldn’t know for certain because no surveys were conducted.”

Research fellow Lionel Ng from the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute said “many things have happened between 2012 and 2025 – including two major coral bleaching events in 2016 and 2024 – and a few minor ones, as well as other marine impacts that may not have been as well documented”, and these events could have resulted in a reef environment that is different from what was reported in the 2012 report.

Nature experts say they have not properly surveyed Jurong Island’s vegetated areas because of restrictions there. Mr Muhammad Nasry Abdul Nasir, executive director of the environmental group Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, noted that the trees would help to lower temperatures on the industrial island. There could also be more bird crashes with buildings replacing vegetation, he added.

Study finds Jurong Island power plant may not impact corals, but experts raise questions on methods
Shabana Begum Straits Times Mar 10, 2026, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – An environmental study for one of the first developments in an area of Jurong Island carved out for low-carbon technologies has found that its impacts on the marine environment would be limited.

Slated to be up and running by 2029, electricity retailer PacificLight’s 670MW hydrogen-compatible natural gas power plant and energy storage system will be able to power more than 864,000 four-room flats for a year.

Much of the 430-page report, published online in mid-February, was focused on identifying the development’s impacts on the marine environment, which are likely to arise from discharge released by the power plant.

This includes stormwater run-off from the premises and seawater that is taken in to cool the plant and subsequently released. Such discharge could be heated and contain chlorine, which can stress marine life and even cause death at elevated levels.

Hard corals, in particular, are sensitive to heat. When stressed by warmer waters during a marine heatwave, corals turn ashen white in a phenomenon known as coral bleaching.

The nearest known coral reef to the power plant is known as the Helios Secondary Reef, and is located about 700m away from the discharge outlet. It is made up of corals that colonised the seawall and artificial structures at the southern hook of Jurong Island.

The environmental impact assessment by consultancy ERM (Environmental Resources Management) had involved studying samples of plankton and bottom-dwelling organisms.

Information on corals at Helios Secondary Reef had been gleaned from a 2012 study by the National Parks Board. The ERM report noted that the reef was significant in supporting a number of nationally vulnerable and near threatened coral species.

Modelling studies were also conducted to deduce how far the heated discharge would spread.

Under ASEAN guidelines on marine water quality, heated discharge should not raise the surrounding sea temperature beyond 2 deg C.

Models showed that a more than 2 deg C increase in water temperature could extend up to 300m away from the discharge point. Such an outcome would happen less than 1 per cent of the time during the north-east monsoon season, when wind speeds are higher, models showed.

Within 100m of the discharge outlet, temperatures could rise by 2 deg C about 20 per cent of the time.

Models also showed that the chlorine levels within 300m are compliant with international standards, said the report. Therefore, the marine impact was deemed to be minor and negligible.

However, some experts and nature groups raised questions about the rigour of the environmental study, pointing to how the report’s conclusion on impact to corals was based not on field surveys, but from a study that could now be outdated.

Ms Rachael Goh, co-lead of land use planning at environmental group LepakInSG, pointed out that the coral community composition could have changed over the past 14 years.

“While the Helios Secondary Reef is located far away from the canal outlet, corals could have established on the sea walls nearer to the outlet. The thing is, we wouldn’t know for certain because no surveys were conducted.”

Other experts also pointed out that two major coral bleaching events happened after 2012, which could have affected the reef health and species diversity on Helios.

Research fellow Lionel Ng from the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute said “many things have happened between 2012 and 2025 – including two major coral bleaching events in 2016 and 2024 – and a few minor ones, as well as other marine impacts that may not have been as well documented”, and these events could have resulted in a reef environment that is different from what was reported in the 2012 report.

Emeritus Professor Chou Loke Ming of the National University of Singapore’s Department of Biological Sciences acknowledged that the report did consider the distance of the Helios reef from the impact area.

“But it would be better if a more recent assessment of (the) reef was made. It is a developing reef habitat and may possibly be supporting more vulnerable species as time goes on,” he said.

Prof Chou added that such reefs “display a remarkable ability to regenerate” and should be fully utilised in nature-based solutions to protect coastlines against rising seas.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, PacificLight said the scope and methods of the environmental baseline assessment were developed in consultation with relevant government agencies.

“The studies we have undertaken, which have been conducted against applicable ASEAN and international thresholds for aquatic life protection, show that our project will not cause significant stress to any coral communities in the vicinity of the discharge outlet,” it added.

The company said it will also develop plans to outline how risks to the marine environment will be managed during the facility’s construction and operation. These include setting up silt curtains during construction to minimise sedimentation – which can be harmful to corals – and monitoring the temperature and chlorine levels of the discharge.

PacificLight said plankton and tiny bottom-dwelling organisms were chosen for on-site sampling because they are early indicators of changes in water quality such as temperature, residual chlorine, and nutrients.

“(They) exist within and near to the predicted extent of the discharge plume, and respond quickly to environmental changes,” the company said.

PacificLight’s power plant and energy storage system is among the first developments in an area carved aside for new low-carbon energy projects on Jurong Island.

JTC Corporation announced in late 2025 that around 320ha of land on the island will be earmarked
for new energy projects and a data centre park. The areas set aside for these facilities are largely in the south-west and north-west of the island, where vegetated areas still remain.

The secondary forests mainly sprouted after reclamation of the industrial island was completed, and are mainly dominated by non-native plants, according to JTC.

The infrastructure for the upcoming plant by PacificLight will be built on vegetated land on the emptier western side of the industrial island.

The trees on the PacificLight project site largely comprise exotic and invasive species like acacia and lead tree, ERM found. The consultants also found through their biodiversity studies two critically endangered plant species – including the sea rubber vine – on the plot.

The vine was transplanted out, as will be the case for other plants threatened with extinction found before construction, said the report.

Nature experts say they have not properly surveyed Jurong Island’s vegetated areas because of restrictions there.

But Mr Muhammad Nasry Abdul Nasir, executive director of the environmental group Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, noted that the trees would help to lower temperatures on the industrial island. There could also be more bird crashes with buildings replacing vegetation, he added.

ERM’s report had identified a few locally vulnerable and near threatened bird species such as the oriental magpie robin, changeable hawk eagle, golden-bellied gerygone and the rufous-tailed tailorbird.

In response to queries on measures that will be taken to protect wildlife in Jurong Island’s vegetated areas, JTC said inspections will be conducted with a trained ecologist to check for the presence of wildlife before plants are removed.

“If active bird nests are found, we will ensure that the nests will not be affected unless they are no longer occupied. Wildlife specialists will be engaged to translocate any wildlife found to be trapped within the site during construction,” it added.

Coastal Protection Bill passed into law

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:06:00 +0000

The new law affects about 100 landowners who occupy 30% of private land along the coast. Mostly shipyards and ports, and oil and gas and manufacturing companies, at Jurong Island and the industrial estates of Tuas, Pioneer and Senoko. Studies for the north-west stretches are expected to be done by 2026, while studies for Jurong Island and the south-west coast will be completed by 2030.

The law also gives PUB the powers to designate nature spots such as parks and beaches as areas that can be flooded temporarily, especially during extreme high tides and storm surge events. This ensures that nature spots will not be permanently walled up, and marine habitats like seagrass meadows, mangroves and intertidal zones can be preserved. For instance, the recommendation for Changi Beach Park was for a raised platform – such as a bund – to be built farther inland to ensure access to the beach. This means the beach will be left to flood temporarily during extreme weather events.

Landowners can get grant to defray cost of coastal defences, which are required under new law
This grant will cover the cost of flood risk studies, diversion of power and water lines, and the eventual construction of coastal protection measures.
Shabana Begum Straits Times Mar 06, 2026, 05:14 PM

SINGAPORE - All coastal landowners in Singapore will be eligible for a grant to help defray the costs of building shields to protect their assets from rising seas, as required under a new coastal protection law passed in Parliament on March 6.

This grant will cover the cost of flood risk studies, diversion of power and water lines, and the eventual construction of coastal protection measures, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said. She did not reveal the quantum of the grant.

Under the Coastal Protection and Other Amendments Bill, government agencies and private companies that occupy land along Singapore’s shorelines are required to implement measures to shield their coastal areas from rising seas, or face a fine and jail term.

The new law will likely apply to more than 100 coastal landowners.

The Government, which owns 70 per cent of coastal land, will be responsible for protecting the majority of the coastline segments.

The remaining 30 per cent of private land are non-residential and comprise mostly shipyards and ports, as well as businesses in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors. Most are located on the south-west and northern coastline segments, including Jurong Island and the industrial estates of Tuas, Pioneer and Senoko.

Occupiers of coastal land will be given about 10 years’ notice to take coastal protection measures, which could include building seawalls, raising land or putting up deployable barriers at jetties.

The first tranche of notices is expected to be sent out to affected landowners from the early 2030s. Landowners can apply for the grant once they receive a second notification, about five years later.

Ms Fu said the funds disbursed will be sized according to benchmarks while considering prevailing market rates and inflation.

The total grant amount awarded to each agency or company will be split into tranches to help landowners with their planning and cash flow, said Ms Fu, adding that the grant details will be further developed and shared when ready.

Ms Fu added that the Government will also offer technical advice and consultations to landowners as they navigate their obligations under the new law.

She pointed out that training programmes on coastal protection are available to help raise the engineering sector’s competency to implement proper coastal protection measures for landowners.

One such training programme is the coastal protection masterclass run by the Singapore Water Association.

The grant and technical support came about after affected waterfront firms shared with the Government that they had not factored in the cost for additional coastal protection measures when the land was leased or purchased, said Ms Fu.

The Bill was passed following a two-hour debate, in which a total of eight MPs spoke.

Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West) had asked about the potential for the continuous line of coastal defence around Singapore to be breached if landowners’ measures are not well coordinated.

A critical requirement under the new law is that landowners must ensure that one plot’s coastal protection measures are tightly connected to another’s, to ensure there is a continuous line of defence to keep out rising seas.

“Even if all (waterfront) companies or landowners have the best of intentions, they may have knowledge gaps and coordination failures,” added Ms Poh, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and the Environment.

Ms Fu said the law will grant and facilitate access to landowners if they need access to a neighbouring property to connect their flood shields and ensure they are watertight.

On the need for a law to allocate responsibility for coastal protection to specific landowners, Ms Fu noted that different landowners require customised coastal protection measures to suit their individual needs.

For example, a shipyard may choose to build a seawall along the perimeter of the dry dock while leaving the seaward entrance accessible.

“It would not be practical, nor desirable, for the Government to implement standard coastal protection measures for such a wide range of land uses, from ports, ship-building yards to petrochemical plants,” said Ms Fu.

Ms Nadia Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC) and Ms Cassandra Lee (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) asked for greater clarity on how the development of a coastal measure would be affected if ownership of a seaside plot were to change during the 10-year period.

Ms Fu said outgoing landowners will need to submit relevant reports and blueprints of their coastal structures to national water agency PUB, which will then transfer the reports to new owners.

On accounting for coastal firms that may suddenly wind up before the 10-year period, as raised by Ms Lee Hui Ying (Nee Soon GRC), Ms Fu said PUB will use its enforcement powers to ensure the continuous line of defence is not compromised due to any firm’s exit.

For example, PUB has powers to step in and undertake maintenance and repair works and also recover the costs from the landowners, if needed.

The government grant could also be reimbursed to landowners in tranches, so that PUB can monitor the progress of coastal works.

Several MPs, including WP’s Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang) and Non-Constituency MP Andre Low, said they hoped for nature-based solutions to be incorporated in coastal protection measures. These could include the use of coral reefs and mangroves to weaken wave energy and prevent erosion.

“Where possible, the continuous line of defence can be set behind mangroves to minimise any impact to them,” said Ms Fu.

A soon-to-be-published code of practice to equip landowners with coastal solutions could also include hybrid solutions, which combine nature and hard structures, she added.

Private coastal landowners to receive grant, face new obligations after Coastal Protection Bill passed
Private firms – mainly shipyards, ports and industrial operators – must implement flood defences on their land as part of a nationwide coastal defence line.
Koh Wan Ting Channel NewsAsia 06 Mar 2026 05:59PM

SINGAPORE: Private landowners of coastal plots will face new obligations and receive capital grants to help them implement mandatory coastal protection measures after the Coastal Protection and Other Amendments Bill was passed in parliament on Friday (Mar 6).

The grants are designed to ease the upfront capital burden on landowners who will be legally required to install flood defences as part of an islandwide line of defence against rising sea levels, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said.

These landowners will also receive advice and consultation from national water agency PUB on how to carry out the required works.

The new law will require all coastal landowners - including government ministries, statutory boards and private firms - to implement coastal protection measures as part of a continuous line of defence.

About 70 per cent of Singapore’s coastline is government-owned and will largely be handled by the state. The remaining stretches are held by private companies, mostly shipyards, ports, and businesses in the oil, gas and manufacturing sectors.

The capital grants will cover studies, diversion of services and construction costs. Grants will be sized against cost norms that account for prevailing market rates and inflation, and paid in reimbursement tranches to help landowners manage cash flow. Landowners may apply for the grant only after a legal obligation has been formally imposed on them.

PUB will notify affected landowners of their obligations around 10 years before the expected completion date.

The Bill also gives PUB enforcement powers, including emergency powers of entry if the continuous defence line is incomplete due to delays, or if a landowner cannot be reached during an imminent coastal flood event.

Mean sea levels around Singapore are projected to rise by up to 1.15m by the end of this century. Combined with storm surges and high tides, water levels could spike by 5m instead.

“This is serious. It means that around 30 per cent of Singapore could be flooded by seawater. Our businesses along the coast, such as shipyards or ports that rely on having access to the sea, will be at risk of coastal flooding,” Ms Fu said.

CONCERNS IN PARLIAMENT

Eight MPs raised questions largely centred on the responsibilities that private landowners or lessees would have to bear.

MP Poh Li San (PAP-Sembawang West) pushed for a centralised approach to the design and construction of coastal protection measures to avoid points of weakness and allow the government to leverage economies of scale.

MP Lee Hui Ying (PAP-Nee Soon) echoed similar concerns, suggesting it might be more efficient for the government to build the entire defence line and then seek reimbursement from landowners.

In response, Ms Fu said landowners should be responsible for works on their own land.

“Having the government centrally implement solutions will be suboptimal, since it may not be feasible to account for every landowner's unique needs and timelines,” she said, adding that landowners were better placed to implement measures suited to their business operations.

MP Dennis Tan (WP-Hougang) asked for the type of private landowners that occupied coastlines, and whether they were non-business entities.

Ms Fu said the vast majority had leased industrial land from JTC, which PUB is working with to explore a centralised procurement model and other options to support lessees.

Mr Tan also asked if there were any industrial lessees that had short tenures remaining, which would affect their ability to carry out the coastal protection measures.

“If a waterfront company runs into financial problems or goes into liquidation and is not able to build or to complete the construction, may we also be left with a public safety risk that neighbors cannot fix alone. How will the government intervene in such a situation?” asked Mr Tan.

Ms Fu said that PUB will have the power to step in and undertake maintenance and repair works for companies that face short-term liquidity issues and are unable to maintain their coastal protection measures. PUB will then recover the cost as necessary from the landowners, she added.

MP Cassandra Lee (PAP-West Coast-Jurong West) raised concerns about long project lifecycles that may span multiple ownerships, asking how liability and repair costs would be allocated if defects emerge after a change of hands.

Ms Fu said the transfer of liability is no different from when a property changes ownership.

Previous landowners would have had to engage a qualified person to certify that the structure was up to standard before PUB approved it, she added.

Coastal area landowners, occupants must protect their properties against rising seas under new Bill
Shabana Begum Straits Times Feb 03, 2026, 01:46 PM

SINGAPORE – Those who own or rent land along Singapore’s shorelines will be compelled under a proposed law to implement measures to shield their coastal areas from rising seas, or face a fine and jail term.

The Coastal Protection Bill was tabled in Parliament on Feb 3.

Government agencies, private landowners and long-term lessees will be given 10 years’ notice to take coastal protection measures. These could include building and maintaining sea walls and barrages, or planting mangroves, to prevent coastal flooding.

For shipyards and fuel storage facilities that need access to the sea, deployable barriers or movable flood-defence systems could be potential solutions, as they can be installed just before bad weather hits.

The first tranche of notices is expected to be sent out to affected landowners from the early 2030s.

Under the Bill, coastal landowners will also need to appoint flood protection managers who will oversee the measures and carry out the flood response plan. These managers will be national water agency PUB’s main points of contact for each site, and will need to undergo training.

PUB and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) said in a joint statement: “Coastal protection is a long-term endeavour, which requires years of planning and construction. The (Bill) is tabled now to give landowners and the industry sufficient notice and lead time to be familiar with the requirements.”

By 2100, Singapore’s mean sea level is projected to rise by up to 1.15m. In the event of high tides and extreme events like storm surges, sea levels could rise by 5m, leading to coastal flooding.

A continuous line of defence

PUB and MSE said the Government, which owns 70 per cent of coastal land, will be responsible for protecting the majority of the coastline segments.

The remaining segments are occupied by private landowners and lessees who will need to implement their own coastal protection measures.

These segments are non-residential and comprise mostly shipyards and ports, as well as businesses in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors, said Ms Angela Koh, PUB’s deputy chief executive of flood resilience.

Most are located on the south-west and northern coastline segments, including Jurong Island and the industrial estates of Tuas, Pioneer and Senoko.

Tabling the Bill now will allow the affected groups to make more informed decisions, as they assess their long-term development or renewal plans, added Ms Koh.

A critical requirement under the proposed law is that landowners must ensure that one plot’s coastal protection measures are tightly connected to another’s, to ensure there is a continuous line of defence to keep out rising seas.

In the event that landowners need to enter to build on another owner’s land, the Bill will provide access and facilitate this.

Failure to ensure this connection, causing seawater to gush through an unprotected area, is an offence. Failure to put in place a coastal protection measure by the deadline or altering the structure without PUB’s approval could result in the highest penalty of two years’ jail and a $200,000 fine.
Code of practice

The authorities will publish a code of practice in mid-2026 to help equip landowners with knowledge about solutions against sea-level rise and standards to be met.

The code will provide common design standards and requirements to guide the industry on planning, designing and constructing various types of protection structures, PUB said previously. To maximise land use, it will also include best practices for the use of multifunctional solutions.

PUB has divided Singapore’s coastline into eight segments. Each has unique environmental or economic conditions that coastal protection measures must be tailored to. For instance, the Greater Southern Waterfront region will be protected by arm-like coastal barriers, instead of the raising of seawalls and construction of tidal gates which would affect the waterfront character of the area.

Since 2021, Singapore has progressively carried out site-specific studies to develop tailored coastal protection plans for different segments of the coastline.

The study for the south-eastern section – which runs from Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal to Changi – was completed in 2025. Solutions recommended for this stretch include coastal barriers, raising shoreline slopes and constructing bunds on Changi Beach.

Studies for the north-west stretches are expected to be done by 2026, while studies for Jurong Island and the south-west coast, which includes Tuas, will be completed by 2030.

After each site-specific study is done, affected landowners and leaseholders will be informed of their responsibilities from the early 2030s. They will be given at least 10 years’ advance notice to plan and implement coastal protection measures, said PUB and MSE.

The water agency and the ministry noted that measures such as seawalls and revetments are not new to landowners, since these have been constructed at their sites to prevent coastal erosion.

When asked how much a coastal landowner has to set aside for coastal protection, PUB and MSE said they are unable to give a cost estimate. This is because costs would differ based on landowners’ specific operational needs, length of coastline and site conditions, they explained.

But they added that the Government will provide support in the form of financial assistance and technical advice for affected private landowners and leaseholders.

These could include, for instance, consultations on solutions and assistance to coordinate with neighbouring seaside plots to ensure a continuous line of defence.

More information on the financial assistance will be revealed when it is ready, PUB and MSE added. The authorities previously consulted potentially affected landowners and took their feedback into account.

Accommodating nature

The proposed law also gives PUB the powers to designate nature spots such as parks and beaches as areas that can be flooded temporarily, especially during extreme high tides and storm surge events.

This ensures that nature spots will not be permanently walled up, and marine habitats like seagrass meadows, mangroves and intertidal zones can be preserved.

For instance, the recommendation for Changi Beach Park was for a raised platform – such as a bund – to be built farther inland to ensure access to the beach. This means the beach will be left to flood temporarily during extreme weather events.

However, landowners need to prepare a flood response plan in the event of a park closure and conduct periodic drills. The plan may also include evacuation protocols and setting up warning signs.

The landowners must also prove that sheltered facilities like toilets, seaside eateries and sites for religious rituals will not be damaged by the coastal floods.

Infrastructure near the shore, including jetties, terminals, piers and nature boardwalks, must be protected from both permanent and temporary flooding.

However, owners can seek exemptions from PUB if they assess that the structures can withstand flooding.

Overall, the Bill will amend the Sewerage and Drainage Act and rename it as the Sewerage, Drainage and Coastal Protection Act. Parliament is expected to debate the proposed law in March.

Professor Adrian Law, executive director of the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute Singapore, noted that the cost of coastal defences depends on how each landowner assesses the long-term redevelopment, renewal or investment plans for a site.

“The proposed law is well thought through towards achieving the key objective of a continuous line of defence. The landowners will be given at least 10 years’ advance (notice and) they can take advantage of this ample... notice to actively plan ahead and make things smoother,” he added.

Other intertidal surveys in Feb 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:25:00 +0000

Between the low spring tides, the intrepid Rui Quan Oh relentlessly checked out more shores! As usual, I learn a lot about crabs, and also the pretty insects and spiders of our mangroves. So glad to know cute fiddlers and awesome Blue-spotted mudskippers still abound on Pulau Ubin.

Collage of photos by Rui Quan Oh

Rui Quan checked out Sentosa, Coney Island, Admiralty Park. And also Ubin together with Zen Xuan He. Thanks also to Dr Clarence Sim for inviting Rui Quan to help in his intertidal work at Pulau Semakau.

Rui Quan Oh checked out Sentosa Tg. Rimau on 31 Jan

Rui Quan Oh helped researchers to Semakau West on 3 Feb and got some quick glimpses of the shore.

Rui Quan Oh checked out Coney Island on 16 Feb

Rui Quan Oh checked out Admiralty Park on 20 Feb

Rui Quan Oh checked out Pulau Ubin mangroves on 22 Feb

Zen Xuan He was also at Ubin with Rui Quan

New marine science research centre of excellence to be established

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:25:00 +0000

A new marine science research centre of excellence will be established to conduct a $60 million research programme. More details will be released later this year.

From NParks Facebook post about the new centre

Key Area 1 of the centre is "Biodiversity and Nature". The centre will focus on foundational research on species, species functions and interactions, to inform conservation, management and policy. Forming the basis for further and more complex research, which will in turn allow the development of solutions to emerging challenges in the longer-term.

Establishment of new marine science research centre of excellence
Ministry of National Development, Parliamentary Speeches Mar 4, 2026

The National Parks Board (NParks), in partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS) as the Host Institution (HI), will establish a new marine science research centre of excellence under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2030 Plan (RIE2030). Further details regarding the $60 million research programme conducted at the centre will be released later this year.

Singapore's marine environment supports diverse coastal and marine habitats that provide essential ecological services including coastal protection, fisheries support, and carbon sequestration, forming an integral part of the nation's natural heritage. However, as a small island nation, Singapore faces escalating pressures from intensifying human activities, climate change, and resource requirements. Better understanding of these dynamics and developing appropriate management responses will support sustainable growth within our marine environment. An integrated research approach for interdisciplinary topics and sustained commitment to deepen and retain local capabilities in this field will be needed to effectively manage our marine ecosystems, which we will achieve through a newly established a marine science research centre of excellence.

The centre will consolidate capabilities to better leverage expertise across research institutes, universities and the industry to sustain research momentum to accelerate the growth of the marine science ecosystem. To ensure that Singapore has local capabilities with familiarity of the specialised local marine science context and environment, the centre will develop a robust pipeline of local talent that can help build capabilities across academia, industry, and government. The centre would also serve as a conduit for regional collaboration, facilitating data sharing and comparative assessments of marine health across Southeast Asia, and collective understanding of our connected waters.

The Centre will consolidate and build on existing efforts under the Marine Climate Change Science Research Programme and its predecessor, Marine Science Research & Development Programme. The centre aims to develop targeted and effective management and conservation strategies that enable marine ecosystems to withstand multiple stressors while continuing to provide essential ecosystem services. It will also deliver inter- and transdisciplinary solutions to support economic productivity with ecological resilience, ensuring that our marine and coastal resources can scale and sustain our blue economy without overexploitation or degradation.

Research efforts under the new marine science research centre of excellence will focus on three key areas, supported by technology:

• Key Area 1: Biodiversity and Nature: The centre will focus on developing a comprehensive understanding of our marine environment. It will comprise foundational research that aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of species, species functions and interactions, to inform conservation, management and policy. This research will form the basis for further and more complex research, which will in turn allow the development of solutions to emerging challenges in the longer-term.

• Key Area 2: Environment and Climate: Research to understand climate change and other anthropogenic stressors will be instrumental in developing evidence-backed approach towards development to support sustainable stewardship of Singapore's marine environment, including the curation of risk management plans for specific anthropogenic stressors that enable informed decision-making for sea space management.

• Key Area 3: Ecosystem Resilience: The centre will explore how resilience can be built on an ecosystem level to withstand future challenges, and spearhead the development of novel conservation and management strategies. While taxa-specific restoration techniques have been researched and implemented over the years for individual habitats such as coral reefs and mangroves, there is a critical need to expand this approach to include whole-of-ecosystem restoration strategies that consider future resilience against the compounding threats of temperature rise, sea level rise, and coastal development. By developing predictive models for ecosystem tipping points and creating adaptive management frameworks, this work will ensure that marine environments can withstand multiple stressors while continuing to deliver essential ecosystem services.

• Harnessing Technology: The centre will leverage cutting-edge technology that allows for more affordable and efficient data gathering and analysis through innovative monitoring, sensing and assessment systems tailored to Singapore's unique marine environment, supporting objectives in the three key areas. The enhanced monitoring systems will enable better-informed decision-making (e.g., in management of our sea-space, conservation and coastal protection, etc.) and efficient mitigation of environmental impacts.

$70million top up to Fund supporting local fish farms

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:12:00 +0000

A $70 million boost from April to the existing Agri-food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund aims to co-fund solutions that support multiple farms, such as integrated delivery systems. The national breeding programme will be expanded to include red snappers, and the supply of whiteleg shrimp larvae and grouper fingerlings will be increased. Recognising that commercial viability depends on sustained demand, SFA is also working to increase offtake of locally farmed produce.

Barramundi Asia fish farm off Pulau Semakau
lies derelict, Nov 2024

Singapore will also be upgrading its model to predict harmful algal blooms, which risk devastating harvests of aquaculture farms when sea surface temperatures rise. The new model will integrate forecasted weather conditions for more accurate environmental predictions, alerting farms ahead of anticipated events to implement measures that limit their losses.

Local farms to get better supply of baby fish and shrimp; new $70 million top-up to agri fund: Zaqy
Ang Qing Straits Times 04, 2026, 10:56 AM

SINGAPORE – Local farms will get more support to raise productivity, adopt technology, and gain access to high-quality livestock under new initiatives announced by the Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on March 4.

These include a $70 million boost from April to the existing Agri-food Clu ster Transformation (ACT) Fund, which supports farms in adopting new technology, while expanding its scope to help farms forge partnerships that can benefit the industry, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad told Parliament during the debate on his ministry’s budget.

The new funding component was introduced in response to industry feedback, he said. It aims to co-fund strategic partnerships between farms and “ecosystem players” on the development and deployment of solutions that can support multiple farms.

An example of this would be integrated delivery systems that reduce transportation costs and improve the freshness of products.

The Government will also include red snapper in a national breeding programme established in 2024 to supply local farms with high-quality baby fish, to improve the profitability of farms, Mr Zaqy added.

Currently, the programme breeds Asian sea bass and marine tilapia.

“These premium fingerlings grow faster, they survive better, and they convert feed more efficiently, and that means farms reach market quicker with lower feed costs and fewer losses,” he said, adding that farms would be able to rely less on imported sources with less consistent quality and lower survival rates due to the long transport stress.

Mr Zaqy was laying out the various initiatives that his ministry plans to roll out to boost the flagging farming sector in Singapore.

He outlined Singapore’s vulnerability to external shocks and supply chain disruptions as a country heavily reliant on imports.

“We must stay prepared for rising geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions which could disrupt our food supply. The latest chain of events in the Middle East only underscores this global climate of uncertainty,” he said.

On local production, Mr Zaqy said the Government had learnt from its experience in developing an initial national target to produce within Singapore 30 per cent of the country’s nutritional needs by 2030.

In 2024, the country produced 3 per cent of its vegetables and 6 per cent of its seafood, figures that have declined over the past four years. Meanwhile, the Republic has found more success with eggs, with local production steadily rising to 34.4 per cent that year.

This “30 by 30” goal was dropped in November 2025. It followed a spate of farm closures due to factors such as high capital and energy costs, supply chain breakdowns and weakened investor confidence.

Mr Zaqy was responding to Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West), who had asked which policy assumptions had failed to cause the ministry to drop its targets. The chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and the Environment also asked what lessons have been learnt from the failure of businesses in large-scale urban farms and plant proteins.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA), which is under the MSE, had rolled out new targets. They include producing 20 per cent of the country’s consumption of fibre, a category that comprises leafy and fruited vegetables, bean sprouts and mushrooms.

Addressing questions from Ms Poh and Mr Ng Shi Xuan (Sembawang GRC) about Singapore’s failed farms and ventures in the alternative protein industry, Mr Zaqy said it will take time for the local farms to develop viable technologies and business models as most of the industry is still in an early phase of growth.

Mr Zaqy said Singapore’s refreshed local production targets focus on fibre and protein types that are feasible to be efficiently produced at scale in Singapore.

“We also have to be realistic about economics,” he said. “Our local farms will always face higher land and production costs compared to farms from the region. Unfortunately, that’s simply our reality.”
Technology adoption

On support for local farms, Mr Zaqy, who was addressing questions from Ms Lee Hui Ying (Nee Soon GRC) and Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), said the next tranche of co-funding support under the ACT Fund will be disbursed over five years.

SFA will also support technology demonstration projects that improve the productivity and consistency of output at aquaculture farms.

The ministry and SFA said in a joint statement that some technologies that perform well overseas may not be suitable to Singapore’s small-scale, tropical marine aquaculture farming environment.

They said: “Through these demonstration projects, SFA will work with farms and technology providers to test these solutions in real operating conditions, so that their technical performance and operational suitability can be assessed before farms commit significant investment.”

An SFA spokesperson said the industry will be engaged to identify possible technologies, with vaccination machines being a possible focus. SFA will then support these farms to adopt technologies that have been demonstrated successfully through the fund.

A ministry spokesperson said the agency will focus on supporting capital expenditure, instead of operating costs, to ensure that funding is as sustainable as possible.

Under the first tranche of the ACT Fund, $55 million was awarded to nearly 150 projects, enabling the installation of technologies like automated irrigation systems to reduce manual labour and climate-controlled environments that ensure year-round production.

More information about the application process for the second tranche of funding will be provided soon, said the ministry and SFA.

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC) asked for details of unsuccessful projects that had received the first tranche of funding.

In response, Mr Zaqy revealed that 60 companies had received the first tranche of funding. The number that folded is “very small”, amounting to about two out of 60, or a failure rate of about 3 per cent, he said.

Higher-quality resources

Aquaculture farms will also get better agricultural resources, said Mr Zaqy.

Other than including red snapper in the national breeding programme, the Government will also work towards industry-led efforts to increase the supply of young whiteleg shrimp and grouper.

These breeding efforts will be complemented with an integrated hatchery support programme, which will help local hatcheries adopt specialised feeds and quality vaccines that maximise the growth potential of high-quality seafood.

Mr Zaqy said: “High-quality eggs and fingerlings set the foundation, but health and nutrition inputs determine whether farms achieve optimal growth and disease resistance.”

Together, these initiatives to improve agricultural resources will help improve the quality of baby fish, raise yields and sharpen competitiveness, he added.

Singapore will also be upgrading its model to predict harmful algal blooms, which risk devastating harvests of aquaculture farms when sea surface temperatures rise.

One of the most deadly algal blooms in Singapore occurred in 2015 in the Strait of Johor, causing 77 coastal farms to lose millions of dollars. One farmer put his losses at $1.3 million.

While not all algae are harmful, the overgrowth of some can suffocate fish, or damage their gills.

The new model will integrate forecasted weather conditions for more accurate environmental predictions, alerting farms ahead of anticipated events to implement measures that limit their losses, said Mr Zaqy.

Another early warning system has already provided greater lead time for action, according to Mr Zaqy.

He shared that a new risk monitoring dashboard and food supply visibility tool expedited Singapore’s risk assessments during Brazil’s avian influenza outbreaks in May 2025, and the recent conflict in the Middle East.

Mr Zaqy said that while the Republic’s original “30 by 30” local production target had “successfully catalysed local production growth”, focusing mainly on one pillar – grow local – left the country vulnerable to the very disruptions it sought to address.

“A single-pillar approach, no matter how ambitious, cannot provide the food supply resilience that Singapore needs,” he added.

Nevertheless, growing a local food supply will remain an important pillar for Singapore’s food security.

“Local farms can provide us with a regenerative source of fresh food that is maintained even during prolonged disruptions,” said Mr Zaqy.

“More of our farms are moving towards controlled environments which makes them more climate-resilient and land-efficient.”

Singapore’s food supply is expected to be threatened by more frequent disruptions and shortages due to the intensifying effects of climate change, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

“We will continue to innovate and take collective action to ensure Singapore’s basic needs are met, even in times of disruption,” she added.

Singapore to inject S$70 million over five years to boost local farm output
New measures include an expanded national breeding programme and fresh hatchery support for the aquaculture sector.
Koh Wan Ting Channel NewsAsia 04 Mar 2026 10:52AM (Updated: 04 Mar 2026 11:53AM)

SINGAPORE: Singapore will inject S$70 million (US$55 million) over the next five years to help local farms expand production capacity and build capabilities, as the country steps up efforts to strengthen food resilience amid growing global uncertainties.

The new funding tranche under the Agri-Food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund was announced by Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad on Wednesday (Mar 4), as he laid out his ministry's spending plans this year.

Introduced in April 2021, the ACT Fund helps local farmers upgrade their operations, such as purchasing equipment and adopting technologies that improve productivity. With the extension, the scheme will be renamed ACT Fund 2.

The measure is part of the Singapore Food Story 2 strategy, unveiled in November last year, which aims to bolster food resilience through four pillars: diversifying imports, growing local, stockpiling and forging global partnerships.

Singapore currently imports more than 90 per cent of its food. That heavy reliance leaves the country exposed to supply chain disruptions caused by climate change, disease outbreaks and geopolitical tensions – making stronger local production a priority.

“We have learnt many lessons from our 30 by 30 initiative. While it had successfully catalysed local production growth, mainly focusing on one pillar – grow local – left us vulnerable to the very disruptions that we sought to address,” Mr Zaqy said.

“A single-pillar approach, no matter how ambitious, cannot provide the food supply resilience that Singapore needs.”

However, growing local produce remains an important pillar of our food resilience strategy, he added.

“Local farms can provide us with a regenerative source of food, of fresh food in fact, that is maintained even during prolonged disruptions. More of our farms are moving towards controlled environments which makes them more climate-resilient and land-efficient.”

Under new local production targets, Singapore will focus on fibre and protein types that are feasible to be produced at scale efficiently.

S$70 MILLION IN CO-FUNDING

Administered by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), ACT Fund 2 provides co-funding support for farms to adopt advanced technologies, improve productivity and enhance climate resilience. It is Singapore's largest industry scheme for supporting local agriculture capabilities to date, Mr Zaqy said.

The first tranche of the ACT Fund was launched in 2021, with S$55 million awarded to 150 projects across 60 firms.

In response to a follow-up question by MP Nadia Ahmad Samdin, who asked for details of unsuccessful projects that had received funding, Mr Zaqy said that about two of the 60 companies had folded, representing a 3 per cent failure rate.

SFA has refined the scheme over the years based on industry feedback, expanding coverage to include marketing and branding expenses, as well as standalone pre- and post-harvest production facilities.

A new funding component - the Industry Partnerships for Capability Transformation Grant - will also be introduced. It is designed to support collaborations between farms and industry partners to develop shared, sector-wide solutions.

"This new funding component is introduced in response to feedback from the industry on the need for collaborative approaches to tackle common challenges, such as limited economies of scale and supply chain inefficiencies," SFA said in a joint factsheet with the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

Farmers can apply for support over a five-year period starting from April 2026. Further details on the application process will be released later.

SUPPORT FOR AQUACULTURE

Beyond direct co-funding, SFA will step up support for technology adoption in aquaculture through demonstration projects.

These projects aim to test overseas farming technologies in real operating conditions similar to Singapore's small-scale, tropical marine environment before farms commit significant investments. Solutions that prove viable will be supported under ACT Fund 2.

The national breeding programme will be expanded to include red snappers, and the supply of whiteleg shrimp larvae and grouper fingerlings will be increased through industry collaboration.

SFA will also facilitate partnerships between local hatcheries and overseas breeders to bring in selected parent stock, breed them locally and supply farms with reliable post-larvae and fingerlings.

BOOSTING DEMAND FOR LOCAL PRODUCE

Recognising that commercial viability depends on sustained demand, SFA is also working to increase offtake of locally farmed produce.

The Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF), which connects farmers, traders and food processing companies through commercial contracts, will expand its product selection under brands such as SG Farmers' Market to include more vegetable varieties and manufactured goods such as sauces and canned items.

It will also introduce new ready-to-eat marine tilapia products under The Straits Fish brand in collaboration with TheSeafoodCompany, and partner more food and beverage players to feature SG Farmers' Market products on their menus.

Meanwhile, the Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme – which recognises food operators that source at least 15 per cent of their produce from local farms in selected food categories – continues to grow. As of December 2025, 119 food businesses have joined the programme.

Western Catchment coastal protection announced

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:39:00 +0000

Conceptual studies for the northwest coast stretching from Tuas to Lim Chu Kang have been completed. Recommended measures include replacing tidal gates and raising dykes to protect four coastal reservoirs – Tengeh, Poyan, Murai and Sarimbun – which are critical freshwater sources for Singapore.

National water agency PUB said in a joint press release with the ministry that the elevated dykes will double as maintenance roadways and incorporate design features to preserve ecological connectivity with the sea. Construction of the measures for the north-west coastline is targeted to start from the mid-2030s.

The government will hold focus group discussions and a public exhibition this year to gather feedback on the National Adaptation Plan. To support ground-up initiatives, the SG Eco Fund will broaden its funding scope to include climate adaptation projects.

Extract from From heatwaves to rising seas: Singapore lays out climate adaptation plan
Singapore's first National Adaptation Plan signals how the country is preparing for a warming world.
Koh Wan Ting Channel NewsAsia 03 Mar 2026 08:18PM

SINGAPORE: Singapore has laid out its inaugural National Adaptation Plan, addressing heat resilience, flood protection, coastal defence, and water and food security.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who designated 2026 the Year of Climate Adaptation, outlined the key pillars of the strategy – to be published as a formal plan next year – while presenting her ministry's budget in parliament on Tuesday (Mar 3).

COASTAL RESILIENCE

"To protect our coastlines from rising seas, we will build a continuous line of defence around Singapore," Ms Fu said.

Singapore's mean sea level is projected to rise by up to 1.15m by the end of the century, while extreme weather events such as high tides and storm surges could push sea levels up by as much as 5m. Around 30 per cent of Singapore's land sits less than 5m above mean sea level.

Conceptual studies for the northwest coast stretching from Tuas to Lim Chu Kang have been completed. Recommended measures include replacing tidal gates and raising dykes to protect four coastal reservoirs – Tengeh, Poyan, Murai and Sarimbun – which are critical freshwater sources for Singapore.

National water agency PUB said in a joint press release with the ministry that the elevated dykes will double as maintenance roadways and incorporate design features to preserve ecological connectivity with the sea.

For other stretches of coastline, the continuous line of defence will draw on existing high ground, integrate coastal protection into future developments, and replace tidal gates at reservoir dykes, PUB added.

Detailed engineering designs for the recommended measures are being developed, with construction targeted to begin from the mid-2030s, subject to further studies. A separate study covering a 15km stretch of the northwest coast from Lim Chu Kang to Woodlands is on track to be completed this year.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

The government will hold focus group discussions and a public exhibition this year to gather feedback on the National Adaptation Plan, Ms Fu said.

To support ground-up initiatives, the SG Eco Fund will broaden its funding scope to include climate adaptation projects.

Extract from S’pore sets up heat resilience office, invests $40m in heat research as part of new adaptation efforts
Shabana Begum Straits Times Mar 03, 2026, 08:19 PM

SINGAPORE – Protecting Singapore from climate impacts will be a major focus for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) in 2026, with a suite of new initiatives to address threats ranging from unbearable heat to rising seas.

These initiatives include girding coastlines against rising sea levels and strengthening Singapore’s food security, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on March 3.

Ms Fu said MSE will be designating 2026 as the Year of Climate Adaptation, and outlined the various initiatives that will be implemented on this front.

“It involves a comprehensive review of our adaptation measures across key domains such as heat resilience, coastal and flood resilience, and water and food resilience,” she said.

These measures will be formalised in Singapore’s inaugural national adaptation plan – a report that the country aims to publish in 2027. Countries party to the Paris Agreement are obliged to submit these plans to the UN.

Shielding coastlines

In her speech, Ms Fu gave the House updates on Singapore’s coastal protection measures.

She said coastal protection studies for the north-western stretch of coastline between Tuas Checkpoint and Lim Chu Kang, where four reservoirs are located, have been completed.

The studies recommended replacing tidal gates and raising existing dykes at the reservoirs to prevent seawater from seeping into them, she said.

The elevated dykes will double as roadways for maintenance, and incorporate features to maintain ecological connectivity to the sea, national water agency PUB and MSE said in a separate statement.

Some of the northern section of the 24km coastline is already on higher ground, while the remaining areas can incorporate coastal protection measures in future developments, they said.

Construction of the measures for the north-west coastline is targeted to start from the mid-2030s.

Ms Fu added that Parliament will soon debate a proposed coastal protection law, which requires private landowners to implement measures to shield their coastal areas from rising seas or face penalties.

“As we reshape our coastlines for the future, we will work hand in hand with stakeholders to co-create solutions that not only protect our shores and preserve the spaces and features we value most, but also provide opportunities to create new spaces.”

Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West) – who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and the Environment – asked how MSE intends to engage the public on long-term adaptation measures and build climate literacy within the community.

Ms Fu said: “As climate change affects everyone, it is important for all Singaporeans to have the opportunity to shape our national adaptation plan.”

Before the measures are finalised, the authorities will engage the public through group discussions, and also hold an exhibition, she said.

“These engagements cover why climate adaptation is important to all of us, and why we need to prepare now,” she said. “We hope people can share their experiences dealing with the impacts of climate change, and their ideas on how they can also play a part in Singapore’s adaptation efforts.”

Sentosa beach rejuvenation and strengthened coast protection

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:25:00 +0000

Sentosa’s beaches will undergo rejuvenation works, including strengthened coastal protection measures. More details about the Greater Sentosa Master Plan will be shared later in 2026.

First phase of Greater Sentosa upgrade to begin; Orchard Road refresh ongoing: Alvin Tan
Rosalind Ang Straits Times Mar 02, 2026, 03:36 PM

SINGAPORE - Sentosa’s infrastructure will be upgraded with a new transport hub to link the island and Pulau Brani in Keppel Harbour, which will be collectively known as Greater Sentosa.

These upgrades are part of the first phase of the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, which was announced by Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan on March 2. He was speaking during the debate on the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s budget.

“We also plan to replace the Sentosa Express to improve connectivity,” said Mr Tan.

The Sentosa Express is a 2.1km, four-station monorail connecting VivoCity in HarbourFront to Sentosa.

When complete, Greater Sentosa will also house lifestyle and hospitality developments, he said.

Sentosa’s beaches will undergo rejuvenation works, including strengthened coastal protection measures to both enhance visitor experience and guard against rising sea levels.

New iconic landmarks will also be created.

One example is the Imbiah Canopy, which will become a beacon atop Mount Imbiah that leads visitors to heritage buildings and nature trails.

More details about the Greater Sentosa Master Plan will be shared later in 2026.

As nature awareness grows, Singapore can rethink its approach to developing green spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:13:00 +0000

Highlighting the rise of youth-led nature groups: LepakInSG, Earthlink NTU and Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity. And the need to push for better engagement on terrestrial developments, raising PUB's community engagement on Long Island and other projects as a good example.

And how the Singapore Terrestrial Conservation Plan provides a framework so that "Singapore can truly live up to its ethos as a City in Nature, one where forested land is not just land to be developed, but a heritage to be stewarded."

As nature awareness grows, Singapore can rethink its approach to developing green spaces
Ang Qing Straits Times Feb 23, 2026, 07:30 PM

SINGAPORE - Accustomed to the lush expanse of forest along Sungei Serangoon, some Hougang residents were taken aback in late 2025 to find machines carving out a bus depot in the heart of the woodland.

They said they were not aware of the impending development in the area and questioned why an environmental study was not required prior to its clearance.

In response, the authorities said the site was not a sensitive nature area and did not warrant such a study as the environmental impact would be limited. Still, some residents started a campaign to save the plot of land, dubbed Serangoon River forest.

Such outcries have been increasing in frequency. Other instances involved planned clearances in Woodlands and Jurong.

These vegetated plots, located outside protected areas, are to be felled to meet the country’s development needs, from industrial spaces that tap the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link to the expansion of Jurong Innovation District.

In tandem, the country is also promoting its vision of a “City in Nature” – which aims to conserve and restore nature in the urban environment. This has struck a discordant note with the public.

Striking a balance between development and conservation is a perennial debate in Singapore, and the authorities have navigated this by commissioning environmental impact studies to blunt the impact of development on the Republic’s flora and fauna.

Agencies also engage with members of the nature community to seek their feedback on upcoming developments. These typically involve nature groups, consultants and scientists from local research institutions.

But there is a rising tide of public concern over the environment from more than just this community, as the Serangoon River forest case has shown.

The city state’s most mature forests, freshwater swamp forest habitats and mangroves account for less than 2 per cent of its territory, according to 2018 data.

Appreciation for the forest in Singapore, however, extends beyond these habitats. Outcry online over plans to develop other areas such as the Dover and Clementi forests shows that any dense patch of trees is valued.

With more beloved wild spaces like Tagore forest and Alexandra forest earmarked for development under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Master Plan, such calls for conservation are set to continue.

Meaningful community engagement to steward Singapore’s wild spaces would go a long way towards helping citizens understand if, and why, their beloved green spots might disappear. At the same time, clearer standards on when environmental studies are needed could help people to understand why one green area is deemed more important than another.
Rising eco-literacy

More is already being done to make such decisions more transparent. In 2025, a record 16 environmental studies were made public, the highest since 2020, when the Government said it would publish almost all of such reports online.

Previously, such studies, which usually span hundreds of pages, were available for viewing only in person, by appointment only, and during office hours. These reports describe the environmental impacts predicted for a project and recommend ways to mitigate these effects.

This transparency has birthed a more eco-literate public. Armed with the technical context, concerned citizens have leveraged social media to translate the jargon in these reports into accessible explainers.

Three youth-led nature groups – LepakInSG, Earthlink NTU and Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity – recently raised concerns over the planned expansion of Jurong Innovation District near Nanyang Technological University through an infographic.

The development would result in the clearance of up to 52ha of forested land and streams – an area larger than Thomson Nature Park. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) had proposed the retention of about 14.5ha of the natural areas.

But the groups called for greater emphasis on ensuring wide and connected habitats remain for wildlife, as the project cuts into one of four key ecological corridors identified in a 2021 national mapping exercise.

Mr Ho Xiang Tian, co-founder of LepakInSG, noted that the report did not appear to have plans to help retain the existing link that animals use to travel from the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), via Tengah forest, to the Western Catchment forest.

Wildlife – especially those that depend on the forest – rely on linked green spaces to travel across biodiversity hot spots in search of food and mates, thus ensuring the healthy exchange of genes.

“The pathway from CCNR to the Western Catchment is already greatly affected by the development in Tengah, so (the expansion) makes it even harder for wildlife connectivity to continue from CCNR to Western Catchment,” said Mr Ho.

Moreover, more people are also becoming aware of the benefits that nature provides – from the cooling ability of a humble tree to an appreciation of green spaces as places of rest and relaxation.

A recent national survey of people aged 18 and above found that most Singapore residents acknowledge and appreciate the benefits they receive from nature, with the cooling properties of green spaces emerging as the most valued service.

More than six in 10 of those interviewed viewed the role of nature in supporting biodiversity as very or extremely important, according to the report published in September 2025.

The study, a collaboration between local and foreign research institutions and the National Parks Board, also concluded that Singapore’s unmanaged natural areas – which were superior in reducing air temperatures and harboured rich biodiversity – were the most valuable natural assets.
Meaningful dialogue

So how can we better balance the scales of development and conservation?

First, there needs to be forums for citizens to raise their feedback about the development of forests.

Currently, forested land can be developed without consulting the public, if internal government assessments deem that they are not near sensitive nature areas, as was the case with the bus depot in Serangoon River forest. This creates undesirable surprises for the ordinary citizen unfamiliar with the URA Master Plan.

Even when studies are conducted, the mode of engagement remains at the discretion of the authorities. Typically, this involves consulting a select group from the nature community before releasing the reports on the URA website with a month-long window for feedback. While the current approach affords more time for the public to comprehend and respond to development projects, its meaning can be lost on the untrained reader, as these reports are often highly technical.

To ensure that the public is meaningfully engaged, the Government can ensure that environmental studies are clear and accessible for the layman.

This has been done before. In December 2025, national water agency PUB released a non-technical summary of a report about the impact of a floating solar farm at Lower Seletar Reservoir. It was the only one of the five reports released in December that provided such a summary. This ensures that untrained people can have a clearer grasp of what these reports mean.

The recent consultation for the upcoming Long Island reclamation project – which involved in-person dialogue with diverse stakeholders – also offers a good model for reconciling conflicting interests.

As highlighted by legal academics Joseph Chun and Lye Lin Heng, a participatory process will strengthen the quality of and public support for the eventual outcome, as affected parties see that their perspectives are considered by decision-makers.
Clearer standards

There is also scope for greater clarity over how decisions regarding the fate of Singapore’s shrinking forests are made, given their value in the hearts and minds of citizens.

According to research published by US law professor Yang Tseming in 2018, EIAs were legally mandated in at least 183 jurisdictions, including China, India and Brazil. Singapore was among six states identified as not having such a requirement.

While a framework to determine and mitigate the impact of new developments on the environment was introduced in 2020, it is still largely up to the Government to decide when an impact study is needed.

In 2024, nearly 40 scientists and conservationists published a ground-up conservation proposal named the Singapore Terrestrial Conservation Plan, which renewed the call for legislation that clearly outlines, among other things, when and how environmental studies are conducted.

Such a framework could have helped clarify why parts of Serangoon River forest needed to be removed.

A clearer framework will also take into consideration the unique ecology of Singapore’s nature spaces. Of the country’s remaining forests, many have sprung up on land zoned for development. Their relative youth, compared with centuries-old rainforests, does not make them less ecologically significant.

Tagore forest in Lentor, a site zoned for housing, is a prime example. It is a significant habitat for the globally critically endangered Raffles’ banded langur.

The Singapore Terrestrial Conservation Plan has urged the authorities to conduct a national review of forested spaces currently zoned for development, and offer clear legal protection for nature areas deemed significant.

By setting clearer legal standards and ensuring the layman has a seat at the table, Singapore can truly live up to its ethos as a City in Nature, one where forested land is not just land to be developed, but a heritage to be stewarded.

Protected sharks, rays allegedly sold as seafood without permits in Singapore’s markets

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:56:00 +0000

Blacktip reef sharks – a protected species that cannot be sold without a permit – have turned up at some wet markets in Singapore, according to photos provided by CNA’s sources.

NParks said it has dealt with seven cases of illegal shark and ray imports without permits between 2020 and 2025. Depending on each case, warning letters and offers of composition - fines paid to settle offences without court proceedings - were issued.

Protected sharks, rays allegedly sold as seafood without permits in Singapore’s markets
Shark meat remains widely available at seafood restaurants, hawker stalls and supermarkets – and some hawkers say they cannot always tell what species they are buying.

Rachel Teng and Louisa Tang Channel NewsAsia 23 Feb 2026 05:19PM

SINGAPORE: When it comes to illegal wildlife trade, many think of elephant ivory, rhino horns or pangolins.

But another group receives far less attention: Marine species that are not fully banned but whose trade is tightly regulated amid growing concerns over population declines.

CNA found that in some of Singapore’s wet markets, some species of sharks and rays that are globally protected are allegedly still being sold without permits despite enforcement efforts.

This has led to concerns that such illegal sales could undermine global attempts to prevent overfishing and the extinction of these species.

TEKKA MARKET A HOTSPOT

Blacktip reef sharks – a protected species that cannot be sold without a permit – have turned up at some wet markets in Singapore, according to photos provided by CNA’s sources.

These are a species well known to those who dive or snorkel in coral reefs across Southeast Asia.

International trade records show that no permits have ever been issued for the commercial trade of meat from these sharks, as well as at least four other species observed in Singapore — spot-tail, bull, blackspot and spadenose sharks.

Such permits are typically valid for 12 months, and 2025 records on the global database have not yet been fully updated. The National Parks Board (NParks) said it was unable to provide CNA with the full list of permits issued in 2025 for shark and ray meat at the time of this article.

Most sightings of such illegally sold seafood over the past two years were reportedly made at Tekka Market.

Regulars in the area said prices for this group of sharks, also known as requiem sharks, range between S$10 (US$7.80) and S$20 per shark – slightly more than legally allowed shark species that do not require a permit.

When CNA visited the market at least thrice a week for a month and spoke to fishmongers, most said they were aware of the penalties for illegally selling protected species.

But one seller has been spotted selling them as recently as mid-December last year – despite telling CNA they have not sold sharks in years.

Another seller said they bring in the sharks in closed opaque boxes and avoid displaying them openly. They were also aware of the penalties involved.

Marine life enthusiast Aidan Raphael Keh, who is set to study life sciences at the National University of Singapore, said the most common species he has seen being sold is the blackspot shark, which is relatively common in the Indo-Pacific region.

"During the weekends particularly, that's when they bring out the most amount of fish to sell. I think I've seen requiem sharks being sold maybe about 50 to 70 per cent of the time I visited Tekka Market,” he noted.

He recounted one visit where he saw some requiem sharks being hawked around 9am. Most of them were sold by 10am.

“The people I've seen buy them are usually the elderly,” Mr Keh added.

NParks said it has dealt with seven cases of illegal shark and ray imports without permits between 2020 and 2025. Depending on each case, warning letters and offers of composition - fines paid to settle offences without court proceedings - were issued.

MIXED INTO LEGAL SUPPLY CHAINS

Marine life researchers, who have been conducting weekly surveys at Jurong Fishery Port for the past few years, said illegal seafood does not have a separate supply chain.

“It actually comes in mixed in with the regular and legal seafood. I think that's one of the main problems – that legal seafood supply chains, not just in Singapore but all over the world, have very little regulation and oversight,” said shark and ray researcher Naomi Clark-Shen.

Not all of the thousands of boxes of seafood that come into the port are inspected, she added.

Jurong Fishery Port, which is Singapore’s only fishery port, handles at least 15 per cent of the country’s seafood imports as of 2023. CNA understands that the rest enter via bulk land or air shipments, where checks may be carried out on a tip-off basis.

Researchers and buyers also said fish – especially certain types of rays, like wedgefishes – usually arrive already pre-cut into smaller pieces.

“This makes identifying the species very challenging for authorities, and it's very difficult for them to tell, is this a protected species? Is it an unprotected species?” said Dr Clark-Shen.

MORE SPECIES NOW PROTECTED

Shark meat remains widely available in Singapore at seafood restaurants, hawker stalls and supermarkets.

At a hawker stall selling shark meat lor mee for S$5 a bowl, the owner Chua Lan Leng told CNA she cannot always tell what species she is buying.

"I don't know (what species they are). When the stock comes, it comes in boxes. It's already cut into pieces,” said Madam Chua, who has sold her signature dish since 2000 at Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre.

Shark meat – from sharks that can be sold without a permit – can also be found at mixed rice stalls for about S$2.50 per serving. These are often bamboo sharks which have a catfish-like appearance.

With more species under protection, experts warn that consumers may unknowingly buy illegal products, especially when fish are sold in chopped form and mixed with legal species.

Many shark and ray species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). These species are overfished or on the brink of extinction and require permits for trade.

CITES regulates the international trade of wild animals and plants to ensure that it does not threaten their survival. Singapore became a signatory to the convention in 1986.

In 2023, 54 shark and ray species were given increased global protection under CITES Appendix II, meaning permits are required for trade.

Since 2025, some species – including the oceanic whitetip shark, whale shark and all manta rays – have been moved to Appendix I as they are now endangered or critically endangered. This means they have been completely banned from international commercial trade.

Countries can also fully ban exports of wedgefish and giant guitarfish, some of which have reportedly been seen in Singapore’s markets.

A 2022 study found that 27 per cent of shark meat sold locally in supermarkets and grocers were protected species listed under CITES Appendix II, which require permits for trade. With updated listings since 2023, that figure has risen to 89 per cent.

"Even though the study was done in 2022, we expect the results to be similar (today),” said researcher Golam Rabbani from the National University of Singapore’s Wainwright Molecular Ecology Lab.

“Even if we were to look at the different dried shark meat products now, most of these products don't have a specific indication as to what species they are. They're just labelled generically as shark meat.

“So, even if certain species are protected, you can't really control the trade unless you know exactly what species each product contains,” he added.

ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS

Enforcement efforts are complicated as marine species span vast ranges over international waters, making it more difficult to pinpoint their source, said Ms Serene Chng, programme manager at wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC International Southeast Asia.

“Another big challenge is how traceability tools have to be very robust. They have to cover all points of the supply chain and yet be feasible to implement by enforcement or regulatory authorities or by the industries themselves,” she noted.

In a response to CNA’s queries, NParks said it follows up on intelligence from government agencies like the Singapore Food Agency and international partners like INTERPOL. It said it also conducts import checks and market surveillance.

Frontline officers use a homegrown, artificial intelligence-powered mobile app called Fin Finder to identify shark and ray fins. Suspicious shipments may undergo further checks, including DNA testing.

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, illegal trading in CITES Appendix II and III species without a permit carries penalties of up to S$500,000 in fines (S$1 million for companies) and/or imprisonment of up to four years (six years for companies), along with forfeiture of specimens.

This also comes as the illegal wildlife trade is increasingly moving online, particularly through messaging and e-commerce platforms.

In Singapore, animal rights charity ACRES received a total of 14 cases of prohibited wildlife sold on Telegram groups.

The listings offering prohibited wildlife included a bearded dragon, snapping turtle, axolotl and serval – an African wild cat. These have been verified to be authentic listings.

ACRES said these numbers may only represent a fraction of the actual illegal wildlife trade problem on the ground.

Regionally, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) tracked 4,925 listings of globally protected species in 2025, under its Cyber Spotter programme. Listings involving live animals doubled from 2024.

Jayasri Srikantan, assistant director of conservation and science at WWF, said a majority of such live animal listings involve reptiles and amphibians that are popular in the exotic pet trade, such as leopard geckos and star tortoises.

ENFORCEMENT NOT ENOUGH

Conservation groups say enforcement alone is not enough.

PasarFish, a local conservation initiative, conducts wet market tours and online campaigns encouraging consumers to diversify their seafood choices.

Singaporeans are among the biggest consumers of stingrays, which are a key component of the popular sambal stingray dish, said PasarFish co-founder Elliott James Ong.

“It's completely legal … but we do need to stop eating so much of these stingrays. We can't blame the sellers for selling it when our consumers are demanding it,” he added.

The group encourages alternati
ves such as the Talang Queenfish, which is commonly used in the Malay community and similarly grilled in sambal.

"What we have realised is that a lot of people are just scared to try alternatives. We're very stuck in our ways – not just in Singapore, but across Asia. We like traditional recipes, and then we want to use the same ingredients in them,” said Mr Ong.

“In terms of the flavours, the aromatics … those can stay the same. But we feel that it's time for us to experiment. If we don't experiment, then we're going to lose (more species).”

Bigger patch of wild mangroves at Marina Bay!

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:16:00 +0000

Once again, we follow in the footsteps of Arjun Sai Krishnan who first checked out this larger patch of mangroves at Marina East in Dec 2025. This gave me the impetus to check it out for ourselves. We were not disappointed!

Hidden behind the trees growing at the edge of the seawall is a patch of mangroves with a wide variety of species including some very rare ones. There are even mudlobster mounds! We saw an otter and other marine life. Will update with sightings by the rest of the team later on.

The most amazing sight was a huge (about 2m tall) Mentigi (Pemphis acidula) (considered Critically Endangered). It was flowering profusely and looked like a bridal bouquet! The stronghold for this plant is Pulau Biola, just off Raffles Lighthouse (Pulau Samutu). Referring to the list of mangrove plants recorded by the Southern Island Biodiversity Survey (SIBS) 2025 this plant also occurs on Pulau Salu (maybe the same one I saw in 2010?), as well as Sisters Island and Pulau Semakau - I have not seen them there, must go look! I saw a small shrub at the Lost Coast in 2010 - its location already reclaimed. I did see one at Chek Jawa in 2011 and regularly during surveys, the last time I saw it again was in 2017.

I saw one tree that was definitely Tumu Berau (Bruguiera sexangula) (considered Critically Endangered) based on the flowers. And another that might also be the same species (no spots on the underside of the leaf so not Rhizophora). This might be the first record of this species in the South as it was not recorded in SIBS.

I saw a few small Tengar merah (considered Endangered) producing flowers and propagules. SIBS also records this at Pulau Hantu, Lazarus Island and Pulau Semakau (2012).

I saw a few tall Teruntum merah trees (considered Endangered) and some small Chengam shrubs, both flowering profusely. I also saw some well formed Nyireh bunga, complete with lovely sinuous buttress roots.

I saw one small Bakau pasir (considered Vulnerable) which was flowering and producing propagules.

I also saw a Tumu with flowers. And some Bakau minyak from shrubs to very tall ones.

I also saw some great specimens of common mangroves, very tall Bakau putih and Api-api bulu (plus many smaller ones of these two species), many small Api-api putih - blooming and producing propagules.

I saw several Perepat trees, some quite tall. All seemed to have lost their leaves - like the one growing on the seawall bund on the western part of this shore. Not sure what is happening. I also saw many small to medium sized Nipah palms (considered Vulnerable). And one Buta-buta shrub.

The rest of the make all the special finds as usual. Rui Quan found a Marine pseudoscorpion, which I had no idea existed on our intertidal. He and Zen saw many fiddler crabs, and snails found only in mangroves. We all saw one otter during our survey. It didn't seem to be disturbed by our presence, coming quite close. But Zen captured the whole family of otters that were there too, seemed they kept out of sight until we left.

My video of the one bold otter, in fact escorted me as I left the site. Probably to make sure it was safe for the rest of the family to return.

The area we surveyed today 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.

This bigger patch of mangroves we surveyed today is surrounded by a fringe of Casuarina trees - these are often the first trees to colonise bare sand. Casuarina seeds sprout best in hot, open sand above the high-water mark and the young plants grow quickly, often form a thicket that eventually forms a Casuarina forest. The mangroves possibly took over as salt water intruded into the Casuarina forest?

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.

The seagrasses returned to the low shore below the seawall on western end in 2015, but were again affected by coastal works, probably related to the construction of the jetty.

The low shore on the western end in Feb 2015
Photo by Loh Kok Sheng.

By 2017, seagrasses were back on the low shore below the seawall on western end.

In Dec 2025, we checked out the seagrasses the low shore below the seawall on western end, as well as the small patch of mangroves that had settled on the berm there. Seems they are settling well.

Photos the low shore on the western end in Dec 2025.
By Loh Kok Sheng and Kelvin Yong.

Hopefully, we can somehow take a closer look at the trees and plants growing on the jetty walls. There might be interesting and rare plants there too!

Thanks also to the team for documenting the patch of Spoon seagrass on the beach at the 'elbow' of the seawalls.

On the way to the bigger patch, the tiny patch of mangroves growing on the berm at the western side of this shore is still there - Perepat tree still with few leaves as I saw it in Dec 2025. How fascinating to have mangroves in the heart of the city with Marina Bay Sands on the horizon!

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.

Technical studies for 'Long Island' 800ha reclamation off the East Coast were recently announced to begin.

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 for coastal! 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.

More photos of this site

Arjun Sai Krishnan surveyd on 4 Dec 2025

Photos by others on the survey

Zen Xuan He

Kelvin Yong

Rui Quan Oh

Paying respects to Big Sister

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:54:00 +0000

It has become our tradition to survey Big Sister's Island during the Lunar New Year. Part of Singapore's first Marine Park, we did our survey with permission from NParks. After raining all day, the weather eased up just as we started out survey.

We saw sharks, giant clam and other colourful reef life. The rest of the team made all the special finds, I will update later with their sightings. The corals seem to be doing well. The Great billed heron was calmly hunting in the Big Lagoon and did not seem disturbed at all by our presence. On the horizon, the Central Business District on the mainland.

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. A super tiny nudibranch (Phestilla sp.) that eats Pore hard corals. The slug has bumps on its body so it resembles the polyps of the coral. It was seen surrounded by spirals of its egg mass. Mathias spotted the elusive green Smasher mantis shrimp that is very zoomy. Many nudibranchs as well as flatworms were seen. And some of them were particularly small. Jewelled chitons, Spider conch and other typical snails were also seen. At sunset, I heard the calls of the Spotted wood owl - so glad the team caught a glimpse of the bird!

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

We all saw the Fluted giant clam and she seems fine. Kok Sheng observed that the siphon opening was particularly large, giving a rare glimpse of the clam's gills. Dr Neo Mei Lin shared that giant clam siphons can change shape from time to time. And it should go back to more normal size. Sadly, we couldn't find the Cushion star that was near the clam during our Aug 2025 survey. Also, Mathias found the shells of a large dead clam near the seawall.

Kelvin also captured a clip of shark that doesn't look like the usual Black-tipped reef shark.

First seen on our last survey in Feb 2022, the large patch (about 10m x 5m) of Branching montipora corals in the middle of the large lagoon seems to be disappearing. The patch already seemed to be more sparse during our Feb 2024, compared to our Jan 2023 survey. Today, there were only small very sparsely scattered colonies. But on a happier note, we had a much better look at corals because both the Sargassum and Bryopsis bloom that dominated the Big lagoon was gone! As well as the cyanobacteria bloom that I saw in Aug 2025.

In the Big Lagoon, I saw the usual variety of hard corals. The medium sized Anemone corals in the middle of the lagoon were doing well. Most of the corals were boulder shaped, but I also saw some plate corals and less common kinds. Including about 10 Mushroom corals from small to medium sized. In Aug 2025, I noticed about 10% of the large Boulder pore corals here had a narrow ring or small patches of dying tissues (white or blue and smells of rotting tissue). I didn't see this today. I didn't see any bleaching corals and most seemed alright.

I saw a good variety of leathery soft corals with some medium-sized healthy colonies. Giant carpet anemones remain abundant - but saw one with a 'Nemo' but it was too shy to be photographed. There were also Frilly anemones, corallimorphs, Asparagus flowery soft corals. I didn't see any that were bleaching.

Many corals continue to grow at the base of the seawall at the Big Lagoon. Many small common boulder shaped and plate forming corals, as well as a few less commonly seen kinds. They seem to be doing well today, clean and fresh most without dead patches. The 'tiles' placed on the seawall is part of work by the Experimental Marine Ecology Lab to enhance biodiversity on our seawalls.

Mathias observed that the sand was starting to bury some of the tiles placed on the seawall, suggesting sediment levels are rising inside the Big Lagoon.

Kok Sheng checked out the corals thoroughly and found the Anchor coral that I was looking for! I haven't seen it for some time. He also checked out the reefs near the jetty. He saw Branching montipora corals and many colonies of Acropora corals of various kinds, similar to what they saw in Aug 2025. As well as many interesting corals all looking healthy.

Photos by Loh Kok Sheng.

Most of the shores on both Big and Small Sisters' Islands were reclaimed: seawalls were built on the reef edge and the reef flat buried. The original islands were much tinier. Most of Big Sister's Island is ringed by artificial seawalls, which create two swimming lagoons. Since the reclamation, living corals have returned in the big lagoon of Big Sisters Island. Google Earth images already show the newly constructed boardwalk!

The two Sisters Islands were designated as a Marine Park in 2014. Big Sisters Island was closed in 2021 for enhancement works and reopened in 2024 with a new boardwalk and other facilities. Like many parks in Singapore, you can visit Big Sisters Island any day from 7am to 7pm. You don't need a guide or a permit to visit during these times. There is currently a free monthly guided walk at Big Sisters Island of the terrestrial areas, NOT covering the intertidal shore.

Our survey today was done with permission from NParks. Small Sisters Islands is not open to the public and reserved for research work.

More about the Sisters' Islands Marine Park on the blog and facebook page. More on the NParks website about what you can see and do at our Sisters Islands Marine Park.

Photos by others on this survey

Jianlin Liu

Liz Lim

Loh Kok Sheng

Kelvin Yong Part 1

Part 2

Mathias Luk

Chay Hoon

Yan Le Su

Lester Tan

Horseshoe crab breeding and seahorse study in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:57:00 +0000

Timed with the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Horse, The Straits Times features two native animals with equine-linked names: the horseshoe crab and the seahorse.

Pulau Jong, Jul 2012

Year of the Horse: Inside Singapore’s first effort to captive-breed coastal horseshoe crabs
Ang Qing Straits Times, Feb 16, 2026, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – For more than a month, a pair of coastal horseshoe crabs have been hooked onto each other under the watch of their Republic Polytechnic (RP) caregivers labouring tirelessly to ensure the species’ survival.

When horseshoe crabs mate, the male grasps the female’s shell with its front claws, externally fertilising the eggs that she releases.

To ensure the best possible conditions for their charges, the students monitor everything from rain – which can dangerously alter the tank’s salinity – to traces of their bead-sized eggs.

This work is part of Singapore’s first effort to captive-breed and study the development of the coastal horseshoe crab.

Ranking among one of the oldest animals on earth, horseshoe crabs are incredibly hardy and have withstood the test of time, said Dr Laura Yap, programme chair of RP’s Diploma in Environmental and Marine Science course. “Unfortunately, it is human-driven disturbances that might now cause their decline.”

Timed with the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Horse, The Straits Times dives into the race to conserve two native animals with equine-linked names: the horseshoe crab and the seahorse.

The mangrove horseshoe crab and the coastal horseshoe crab – both native species of Singapore – are considered locally vulnerable. This means there are fewer than 1,000 mature individuals estimated in the wild, but more than 250.

The mangrove horseshoe crabs are regularly sighted at the Kranji-Mandai mudflats, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and even at the Pasir Ris mangrove. Coastal horseshoe crabs have been spotted mating at Changi Beach Park and East Coast Park.

By foraging, horseshoe crabs stir up sand and mud, releasing trapped nutrients. Their eggs are also food for migratory birds.

However, horseshoe crab sightings are becoming rarer. “People aged 60 and above have shared stories with our team about how they could easily find horseshoe crab eggs as children,” Dr Yap said. “That suggests that horseshoe crabs were more numerous in Singapore in the past.”

The coastal species is particularly difficult to track. Unlike their mangrove cousins, which typically stay in one muddy habitat throughout their lifetime, coastal horseshoe crabs are migratory and spend most of their lives hidden on the seafloor.

This mobility makes them highly susceptible to Singapore’s expanding shoreline, which changes due to land reclamation and other coastal developments. This interrupts the links that coastal horseshoe crabs need between marine habitats.

Launched in 2024, Dr Yap and her team’s research into captive-breeding coastal horseshoe crabs and their life stages will break new ground.

“Many of the developmental stages and the behaviour of this species are still unknown, such as how long it takes for them to reach certain life stages,” said Dr Yap, who specialises in behavioural and conservation ecology.

Her wider effort to research horseshoe crabs since 2015 has already set the milestone of creating a successful protocol for breeding mangrove horseshoe crabs.

The team then moved on to the coastal variety. This has involved hours of observation. On one occasion, the students waited for three hours just to observe the eggs of horseshoe crabs hatching.

“They do a freedom dance when they’re out,” Dr Yap said with a smile. “It’s really very cute.”

So far, the current pair of coastal horseshoe crabs, collected with the National Parks Board’s permission, has produced roughly 1,700 eggs.

These 3mm-wide eggs are divided across three separate tanks to ensure that a single technical failure does not wipe out the entire generation. “We don’t put all our eggs in one basket, literally.”

But the road to adulthood is long. It takes roughly a decade for a horseshoe crab to reach maturity. Mangrove horseshoe crabs have a lifespan of up to 25 years, while their coastal relatives are estimated to live slightly longer at roughly three decades, said Dr Yap.

As the current project nears its September conclusion, the team hopes to secure permits to release the lab-reared juveniles back into the wild.

Going forward, more research is needed to investigate the long-term impact of oil spills on coastal horseshoe crabs, said Dr Yap, a risk that was driven home when an oil spill closed beaches here in 2024.

She said: “Since they burrow and lay their eggs in the sand, we don’t yet know if the oil affected the development of the eggs.”

By June, another understudied horse of the sea is expected to get a helping hand.

Dr Adam Lim, director of Save Our Seahorses Malaysia, told ST that the non-profit organisation plans to collaborate with Singapore researchers and nature groups to document the distribution and diversity of syngnathid fishes, a family of fishes that includes seahorses, in the Republic’s waters.

Three species of seahorses are considered native to Singapore and all of them are deemed critically endangered.

“Seahorses are important to the overall marine food web and ecosystem,” said Dr Lim, a marine biologist. “They are purely carnivorous and prey on the living organisms at the bottom of the sea, keeping their numbers in check.”

The team founded by his late mentor, Mr Choo Chee Kuang, has spent 21 years surveying Malaysia’s waters for seahorses, while educating the public on the animals.

The members recently decided to take their education efforts to companies after realising that white-collar workers aged 18 to 55 with minimal exposure to nature ranked the lowest in awareness of the marine environment.

“With hands-on participation, we seek to close the awareness and exposure gap that is present in society,” said Dr Lim, who noted that only an estimated 50 people in the world specialise in syngnathid fishes. At least six of them are active in the ecology and conservation space of South-east Asia, he added. Singapore does not have a specialist in this field of study.

An aim of the upcoming collaboration is to find a champion for the animals in Singapore.

Said Dr Lim: “Conservation efforts are not just the responsibility of the government, non-governmental organisations or certain individuals. It is a collective effort and participation that will help us move conservation forward in all areas.”

YES! Singapore got wild peaceful sharks.

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:57:00 +0000

YES! We have wild sharks. We often encounter them on our surveys, especially of the more remote offshores reefs. But they are shy and will flee as soon as they sense we are nearby.

Small Sisters Island Oct 2025 by Ria Tan

Our sharks are NOT dangerous to humans. It is perfectly safe to be on the shore with them if we respect their space. We have surveyed shores for decades, often in the dark among sharks, without any harm to people or sharks.

This post was done in preparation for interview with Zaobao, who's interested was piqued by Mathias' video of our most recent survey at Semakau East in Feb 2026. Their article is here.

Sharks are a sign of a healthy reef. Many sharks means there is enough fish for them to eat. So let's rejoice when we see sharks on our shores!

We often see sharks cruising the edge of submerged reefs at low tide, probably waiting for the tide to turn. Just as the moment a 'kopi tiam' door opens, the sharks are eager to rush in and be the first to get the fishes. Small sharks are also sometimes seen in lagoons left behind at low tide. The sharks sometimes excitedly chase fish into the shallows with the incoming tide, but will immediately avoid humans once they detect us.

Sometimes, sharks are so peaceful, they hardly stick a fin out of the water as they cruise quietly by the reef edge. The only sign of them is a flash of small fishes jumping out to escape a shark.

We can safely observe wild sharks by staying still and not disturbing them. To have a look at them, just quietly observe them as they go about their business hunting for fish hiding in the reef. The sharks will swim away as soon as they detect us. They are probably more scared of us than we of them.

Here's a great post about sharks in Singapore by Young Nautilus

A map of southern shore locations.

Some videos of wild sharks seen in recent years by the volunteers on the survey team

Pulau Semakau Sep 2023 by Che Cheng Neo

Big Sisters Island Feb 2025 by Mathias Luk

Big Sisters Island Feb 2025 by Isaac Ong

Terumbu Semakau Apr 2024 by Che Cheng Neo

Terumbu Raya May 2024 by Tammy Lim

Semakau East Jun 2025 shared by Kelvin Yong

Terumbu Raya Jul 2025 by Che Cheng Neo

Sentosa Serapong Jul 2025 by Kelvin Yong

Semakau West Jul 2025 by Kelvin Yong

Cyrene Jul 2025 by Jayden Kang

Big Sisters Island Aug 2025 by Kelvin Yong

Semakau East Feb 2026 by Mathias Luk

Big Sisters Island Feb 2026 by Lester Tan

Pulau Sudong reclamation to relocate noisy RSAF training away from mainland?

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 00:05:00 +0000

An article by Alert 5, a military aviation news site, has insightful details behind the ongoing Pulau Sudong reclamation.

From Port Marine Notice No. 133 of 2025, dated 08 Oct 2025

The article suggests extending the existing Pulau Sudong runway to 3 km, will enable the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) to conduct noisy F-35B landing training at the offshore location. Noise from F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing fighter aircraft has already prompted Japan to relocate training to remote sites. The first of Singapore's F-35s will arrive in Tengah airbase in 2029. The Sudong reclamation is scheduled for completion by 2028.

The Sudong extention will also allow other RSAF fixed-wing aircraft to conduct practice landings that are presently carried out at Tengah and Paya Lebar airbases, both surrounded by residential neighborhoods which have increasingly complained about jet noise.

The current 2km runway at Pulau Sudong functions primarily as an emergency landing point for fighter aircraft. However, the limited runway length means that fighter aircraft landing there in an emergency may require the use of Mobile Aircraft Arrestor Systems installed on both ends of the runway to stop the aircraft in time. The extended 3km runway will provide emergency landing capability for fighters and larger aircraft types with a longer distance for aircraft to decelerate safely, negating the need to deploy the arrestor systems in most situations.

It also provides operational flexibility as the RSAF manages the transition associated with Paya Lebar’s eventual decommissioning after 2030 and Tengah’s expansion.

The article also mentioned our Jul 2024 survey of Terumbu Palat which likely to be lost in the reclamation.

The team encounter corals and a variety of marine life, including the endangered Merten's carpet anemone. More in this blog post of their survey in Jul 2024.

The survey team has been keeping an eye on the situation at the Sudong work site and possible impacts on shores nearby.

In Apr 2024, we checked up on Terumbu Bemban before any signs of work were visible on Pulau Sudong - capturing a 'before' snapshot if you will. In Jun 2025, we made a quick detour after our survey of Terumbu Hantu to have a look at the reclamation site. From a distance, it seems works had started, only on Pulau Sudong itself. The white sandy strip on the foreground is Terumbu Menalung, which we hope to check out soon.

Photo by Loh Kok Sheng

In Jul 2025, we saw many round holes dug out at intervals across the middle of Terumbu Raya. They were uniform in size about 40cm in diameter and about 15cm deep. Not sure if they are related to the Sudong reclamation. We saw the same kind of holes on Beting Bemban Besar which we also surveyed Jul 2025. We continued to see signs of work on Sudong in the distance.

In Aug 2025, we saw a large jack-up rig very close to western Terumbu Bemban - these are usually used for soil investigation. On Pulau Sudong itself, there were large heavy earth-moving vehicles on the seawall. We also saw a total of 3 propped up poles on Terumbu Bemban, arrayed along the length of western Terumbu Bemban. Probably part of the Sudong reclamation, although outside the work site designated in Port Marine Notices.

During our survey of Beting Bemban Besar in Oct 2025, at the ongoing Pulau Sudong reclamation, we saw a large pile of sand and many more large equipment compared to our survey of Terumbu Bemban in Aug 2025. The rest of the team saw people putting in red stakes along the north western edge of the reef flat - not sure why as they didn't get a chance to talk to any of them. Photo by Marcus Ng of a hard-hatter worker walking the shore with the reclamation works on the horizon, and of the workers going back onto their boat (SR 3521A - listed as one of the working boats for the project). Photos by Marcus and Tammy of the red stakes next to some large coral colonies.

The latest Port Marine Notice No. 133 of 2025, dated 08 Oct 2025 indicates work is intensifying "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".

We will continue to monitor.

Giant clams at Pulau Semakau (East)

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:16:00 +0000

One of the reefiest shores lies next to Singapore's only landfill and near petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom. A team surveys even though the tide was not as low as we expected.

The corals seemed alright and we find 6 Giant clams! There were also lots of large sea anemones, colourful crabs, nudibranchs and other interesting marine life.

This shore has always been full of clams. Today, Marcus found close to one another, a young Fluted giant clam (about 20cm) AND a old Burrowing giant clam (about 12cm - in yellow circle)! Lon and Richard found more elsewhere, so in total we might have seen 4 Fluted alive and 1 dead, plus the Burrowing giant clam. Will have to deconflict their photos before we can be sure of the total count.

Lon saw two large Fluted giant clams (30-40cm) but only managed to photograph one. Richard found another large one too, Marcus found a young Fluted giant clam (about 20cm). Sadly, they also saw the shells of one large dead Fluted giant clam. But we also found 2 Burrowing giant clams, Marcus found one about 12cm embedded among coral rubble, and Rui Quan found a smaller one embedded in living coral.

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

The rest of the team make all the special finds! The Magnificent anemones were still abundant - purple and red body columns, also Giant carpet anemones and also possibly the less commonly seen Merten's carpet anemone. Colourful crabs were abundant, and the team saw Bigfin reef squid, the usual nudibranchs.

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

Today, the tide wasn't as low as we expected. But some of the more intrepid team members nevertheless checked out the reef edge. I surveyed the mid-water mark. I saw a large colony of Lettuce corals, some Brain corals, Anemone corals and the usual boulder shaped corals. The scattered patches of Branching montipora corals near the Landfill seawall are mostly alive but have not formed a dense 'field' (yet?). I first noticed them in Feb 2019. All seemed fine.

As in the past, the shore is dominated by large colonies of Leathery soft corals of various kinds. There still many large Asparagus flowery soft corals with some Spiky flowery soft corals. I didn't see any that were stressed or bleaching.

Near the seawall, there are still dense growths of Chocolate sponges - also common on other parts of Pulau Semakau. Button zoanthids remain common covering large areas of rubble. I saw various sponges including a Barrel sponge. I saw one Giant carpet anemone, some Frilly anemones, the rest of the team saw many Magnifica anemones. There were also many crabs, well documented by Rui Quan.

The narrow stretch of sandy shore near the seawalls also had many signs of life. Many oval moon snails, which suggest their buried prey is also present. Also many buried Acorn worms. I also saw a pair of buried horseshoe crabs, Richard saw another buried pair too. There were very sparse far apart patches of Spoons seagrass with tiny leaves. Richard saw Tape seagrass with moderately long leaves (about 30cm) near the reef edge. The Sargassum was not in full bloom here today.

More about Pulau Semakau

Just as Changi Airport and Changi Beach are not the same even though they are near one another and share a name, Pulau Semakau is NOT the same as the Semakau Landfill. The Landfill was created by destroying all of Pulau Saking, and about half of the original Pulau Semakau by building a very long seawall. Fortunately, the landfill was constructed and is managed in such a way that some of the original mangroves, seagrass meadows and reefs on Pulau Semakau were allowed to remain. It is NOT true that the construction of the Landfill created the marine life found on Pulau Semakau. The marine life was there long before the Landfill was built.

Here's a view of the shore we surveyed. This was taken on our Jul 2023 survey when Kelvin flew the drone and gave us awesome new perspectives!

What is the fate of Pulau Semakau (East)?

Pulau Semakau (East), Terumbu Semakau and even Pulau Jong and Pulau Sebarok are slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review.

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.

Landing near the Landfill seawall
on a shore thick with soft corals.

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.

Large leathery soft corals with
petrochemical facilities on Pulau Bukom on the horizon.

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

Marcus Ng

Rui Quan Oh

Jason Ooi

Lon Voon Ong

Meijuan Foo

Samuel Lau

Mathias Luk

Others on the survey: Mathias Luk, Isaac Ong.

Mass injury of Knobbly sea stars at Cyrene

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 23:03:00 +0000

Although Cyrene lies in the middle of an industrial triangle, it still has some of Singapore's most amazing shores. A very large team surveys today.

Alarmingly, we found most of the Knobbly sea stars had mysterious injuries. Seagrass cover was very thin, but dugong feeding trails were still seen. The rest of the team as usual make all the special finds. From Giant clams to interesting sea stars and sand dollars. I will update when they have uploaded their photos.

We saw the usual clusters of Knobbly sea stars at the usual spots in various parts of the reef edge; from a handful to 10-20 individuals. For the first time, we observed up to 70% of the sea stars were damaged. The top-most 5 large knobs were missing - the greyish-blue area of cut tissue was firm, not soft. All other knobs were alright. Examining some undersides, I didn't see any damage. Although some sea stars had sheared off arm tips as well. There were some that were perfectly alright, and some with regenerating arm tips. I have no idea what is going on. We hope this isn't an ominous sign. On our last survey in Jul 2025, we already noticed the shores here were rather quieter than usual.

Kok Sheng is the only one in our team who checked up on all the locations where these sea stars are usually found. He noted of those on the eastern shore near the beacon. about 30% had this injury. While 70% of those nearer landing point on the northern shore facing Pasir Panjang Container Terminal were affected. From his photos, Marcus saw 14 Knobblies at the western shore (nearer Jurong Island) and none them seem affected. In many affected stars, the top five knobs were lost. In some, only a few of the top 5. From Kok Sheng's photos, it seems the knob fell off, rather than being bitten off by predators. The cut is clean and sheer, and there is even one photo with the knob still hanging on by a bit of tissue. So possibly the sea stars self amputated their knobs, the same way that they can do with their arms? We are still checking with science and aquarist experts to get a better understanding of what might have happened.

Collage of photos by Loh Kok Sheng.

Today, I saw some dugong feeding trails at our landing point north-westward facing Pasir Panjang Container Terminal. But they were faint as the seagrass cover was very thin. These trails are formed when dugongs chomp up seagrasses including their roots, leaving a shallow meandering furrow of about equal width and depth. Every survey since 2021, we see dugong feeding trails on Cyrene. We also saw many patches of bleaching Spoon seagrass near the landing point.

As usual, the team make all the special finds: the colourful pink shrimp-goby that lives with a snapping shrimp, 'Nemo' and other lively fishes. There were also some Common sea stars and Kok Sheng saw many Key-hole sand dollars - which we seldom see anywhere else. There were special snails, octopuses, colourful crabs and slugs too.

The team together found 3 large Fluted giant clams (30-40cm).

There's never been a lot of hard corals on Cyrene since we first started surveying it. Most of them are boulder shaped and there are some large colonies. I had a brief look at the corals on the eastern end today. Similar to our last survey in May 2025 and Jul 2025 today I didn't see any bleaching.

Near the beacon and around the eastern tip of Cyrene, there remains many large Leathery soft corals of various kinds. As well as some Asparagus flowery soft corals. Similar to our last survey in May 2025 and Jul 2025 today I didn't see any bleaching, today I didn't see any bleaching soft corals.

I'm trying to be more diligent about documenting seaweed blooms. Today, all around the reef flat, Sargassum is still in bloom, so thick that they made the amphibious dinghy landing more difficult.

A strange experimental set up was seen. We asked around and still can't find out what it's about. One broken fish trap was also seen.

Although it lies in the middle of an industrial triangle and major shipping lanes, Cyrene has some of Singapore's most amazing shores. We had surveyed in Jun 2024 for impact of the Pasir Panjang oil spill a few weeks prior and did not see any signs of oil. While Cyrene seems to have pulled through both this oil spill and mass coral bleaching that happened in 2024, it seems to be growing more quiet. We shall monitor closely and hope it will recover.

Photos by others on this survey

Kelvin Yong

Zen Xuan He

Russel Low on Singapore Reef Watch

Marcus Ng

Che Cheng Neo

Loh Kok Sheng

Jianlin Liu

Tommy Tan

Rui Quan Oh

Zen Xuan He

Meijuan Foo

Tammy Lim

Samuel Lau

Yan Le Su

Others on this survey: Muhd Nasry, Isaac Ong, Yin Chuan.

Other intertidal surveys in Jan 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 21:37:00 +0000

Rui Quan Oh checked up on other shores during the month. From Sembawang, Pasir Ris to Changi. A canal at Pasir Panjang. And separate trips to Sisters Islands and Marina East. Also to check up on the Sungei Pang Sua site which is along the route for MRT tunneling. Marcus Ng also checked up on Changi shores.

Collage of photos by Rui Quan Oh and Marcus Ng

Thank you for keeping an eye on our shores!

Rui Quan Oh visited Big Sisters Island on 3 Jan

Rui Quan Oh also checked out Marina East on 3 Jan

Rui Quan Oh surveyed Sg. Simpang Kiri in Sembawang on 23 Jan.

Rui Quan Oh checked up on Pasir Ris on 17 Jan

Marcus Ng checked up on Changi carpak 6 and 7 in Jan

Rui Quan Oh checked up on Sg. Pang Sua a few times.

Rui Quan Oh checked out a canal at Pasir Panjang on 31 Jan

Rui Quan Oh also checked out Berlayar Creek boardwalk on 30 Jan

Rui Quan Oh checked out Sentosa Tg. Rimau on 31 Jan

Review of EIA law? To comply with UN High Seas Treaty

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:18:00 +0000

EIAs for High Seas activities must be made public on an open-access platform, where affected states and indigenous groups can provide feedback and comments throughout the assessment process.

Reclamation on Pulau Sudong
from Terumbu Bemban, Aug 2025

Singapore’s EIA processes are not coded into law, and not all reports and findings are available online. In these cases, members of the public can access a hardcopy EIA report upon request, but they need to sign non-disclosure agreements.

Reclamation within Singapore’s waters is unlikely to require an EIA because its impact is unlikely to extend into the high seas 200 nautical miles away, said Professor Peter Ng, an adviser at NUS’ Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

Singapore reviewing laws, policies to fulfil obligations under UN High Seas Treaty
Shabana Begum Straits Times Jan 19, 2026, 10:15 PM

SINGAPORE – Singapore is playing its part to help restore order to what is known as the world’s largest crime scene – the high seas.

The authorities are reviewing laws and policies to meet obligations under the UN High Seas Treaty, a landmark deal that came into force on Jan 17 to protect the marine life of two-thirds of the ocean.

Changes to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), maritime and shipping activities, and deep-sea research could be in the works, say ocean policy experts.

The high seas, which lie outside any country’s control, include areas of the open ocean beyond any nation’s jurisdiction, as well as the seabed outside national continental shelves. Covering nearly half the surface of the earth and nearly two-thirds of the entire ocean, the high seas have been rife with illegal fishing, pollution and wildlife trafficking.

Now, activities such as seabed exploration, marine scientific research, and collection of marine organisms for genetic material used in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology will be carefully regulated.

For example, an EIA may have to be done if a company or institute wants to conduct research on harvesting specimens for commercial purposes, said Professor Peter Ng, an adviser at NUS’ Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

A marine sponge, for instance, may contain medicinal compounds that can treat diseases, and an organisation may want to get enough of them to commercialise a product, he pointed out.

“Before you start harvesting certain amounts of this organism, you have to do an EIA, explain why you need to extract, and show that your activities will not mess up the ecosystem,” Prof Ng explained.

The Government, he added, will need to set up frameworks to ensure that such EIAs are done thoroughly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) told The Straits Times that the Republic is reviewing its laws, regulatory frameworks and mechanisms to fulfil its obligations under the treaty.

Singapore is among 80-plus nations that have ratified the High Seas Treaty, formally called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement. Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee presided over the treaty negotiations.

The treaty comprises four main pillars that signatory countries must adhere to: It provides a legal framework to protect marine biodiversity and conduct EIAs, sets out rules for sharing gains from scientific discoveries on deep-sea marine life, and helps developing countries participate fully in ocean research and conservation.

A country must conduct an EIA if its activities in the high seas – from intensive marine research to infrastructure projects – may impact the environment. If a country carries out marine activities within its own jurisdiction that could harm the high seas, an EIA is also required.

The EIAs must also be made public on a designated open-access platform, where affected states and indigenous groups can provide feedback and comments throughout the assessment process.

Singapore’s EIA processes are not coded into law, and not all reports and findings are available online, especially in cases requiring confidentiality, such as national security. In these cases, members of the public can access a hardcopy EIA report upon request, but they need to sign non-disclosure agreements.

MFA said Singapore has a robust EIA framework for all development activities taking place here.

“In general, development projects in Singapore are required to undergo a thorough evaluation process that addresses the potential impact on traffic, public health, heritage and the environment.”

However, to ensure that the Republic addresses the obligations related to EIAs and activities – which could be development-related or otherwise – government agencies are reviewing their processes to determine potential levers to govern such activities, said MFA.

Standards and guidelines for EIAs will be eventually adopted by the treaty’s decision-making body, which “Singapore will take into account when updating our processes in due course”, it added.

Prof Ng, who was scientific adviser to the Singapore delegation during the BBNJ proceedings before the treaty was adopted in 2023, said: “What the authorities are probably thinking about is: How do we advise and regulate Singapore-registered companies who operate (in) the high seas, (and) how do we manage scientists who do research there?

“What are the guidelines, regulations and best practices that ought to be in place for our people to follow?”

Marine development within Singapore’s waters, such as reclamation, is unlikely to require an EIA because its impact is unlikely to extend into the high seas 200 nautical miles away, said Prof Ng.

Things can get complicated if other countries have different EIA protocols. Prof Ng said this is something the local authorities have to look into as they do their review.

A national body should be identified to oversee high seas activities, he said. This could help to simplify administrative work since scientific discoveries and valuable genetic materials need to be made public under the treaty.

Beyond EIAs, the treaty also enables the creation of protected areas in the high seas to conserve marine life and restore ecosystems.

In such areas, restrictions on human activities may be imposed, and Singapore’s vessels may be subject to such regulations, say experts.

Marine policy analyst Youna Lyons, a senior global fellow at the NUS Centre for International Law, noted that 10 to 15 portions of the high seas are being considered for protection.

“Those measures might involve restrictions on the ballasting of water, on areas to avoid, and that can have a direct relevance to Singapore (shipping) activities,” she said.

Dr Tara Davenport, co-head of the oceans law and policy team at the NUS centre, noted that the treaty should not undermine existing frameworks and bodies regulating activities at sea, such as the International Seabed Authority and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This is a key principle underlying the accord.

The IMO, for instance, has recognised some sensitive areas where tighter anti-pollution laws are in place.

“While (countries) may suggest more stringent rules in their proposals for marine protected areas, the (treaty’s decision-making body) must act in a way that respects the competences of other bodies,” said Dr Davenport.

Much like the UN climate change Conference of the Parties (COP), the High Seas Treaty will have its own annual summits, with the first to be held within the year. Ways to implement the treaty are expected to be finalised at the summit, called the BBNJ COP.

MFA said that Singapore will participate in decision-making at the summit and work closely with relevant bodies like the IMO to ensure that the establishment of marine protected areas and other measures “address both the needs of international shipping and the protection of the marine environment”.

Experts say Singapore’s strengths lie in high seas research and sharing of expertise with developing nations, which is also a key component of the UN accord.

For instance, in October 2025, Singapore hosted its first major deep-sea scientific expedition to the high seas after the treaty was adopted in 2023. NUS and non-profit group OceanX made the 24-day mission to Monsoon Rise – a largely unexplored seamount chain in the eastern Indian Ocean – and mapped over 8,300 sq km of seafloor.

Scientists from Indonesia, Fiji, Thailand and Vietnam also joined the expedition, supported by a $6 million grant from the National Research Foundation.

MFA said: “In line with our strong interests to ensure the effective implementation of the BBNJ agreement, Singapore will seek to actively contribute – including via in-kind cooperation and capacity-building efforts and collaborative research – as we did through the joint deep-sea expedition.”

Prof Ng added: “If you’re studying global events like climate change, ocean currents and how they affect food resources and weather, you can’t take an insular view. You can’t just study Singapore waters and be happy with it.”

To protect dolphins and dugong: reduce boat speed and restrict entry at hot spots

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:27:00 +0000

NUS scientists urge increased protection for marine mammals in Singapore's waters, identifying hotspots near the Sungei Johor Estuary, the Southern Islands and the Western Islands.

Dugong feeding trails at Chek Jawa, Mar 2024

Research suggests reduced vessel speeds and restricted entry in hotspots can mitigate boat strikes, mirroring protection in Queensland.

NUS study calls for reduced boat speeds, limited entry near Singapore marine mammal hot spots
Ang Qing Straits Times Jan 19, 2026, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are calling for the increased protection status of marine mammals, as well as reduced vessel speed limits and restricted entry in certain coastal areas to raise the chances of their survival.

Gentle giants like the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and the dugong have endured in the Republic’s territorial waters, despite large-scale land reclamation since the 1800s and the country’s status as a major international shipping hub.

Marine mammals are a strong indicator of the health of ocean habitats, as they are sustained by large amounts of food and tend to have long lifespans.

The NUS study, published in interdisciplinary journal Ocean and Coastal Management in December, is thought to be the first comprehensive baseline for marine mammals in Singapore.

It compiled verified sightings spanning from 1820 to 2024 to identify the animals’ dynamics and hot spots, and found that the areas near the Sungei Johor Estuary, the Southern Islands and the Western Islands were hot spots for Singapore’s marine mammals.

To protect these habitats, the scientists recommended lowering vessel speed limits to 10 knots – which would effectively reduce the lethality of boat strikes to whales and dugongs – or restricting entry altogether.

The need for protection is urgent, as marine mammals in Singapore’s waters appear to be constrained to discrete but patchy areas amid declining resources.

The researchers found that pod sizes of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin have declined – most evidently over the past two or three decades.

“Before this review, there wasn’t a consolidated database for marine mammal occurrences,” said the study’s lead author Sirius Ng, an NUS doctoral candidate studying dugongs. “Most records that we have uncovered tend to be incidental observations by citizen scientists or research groups conducting fieldwork for other studies.”

It took a year to comb through a myriad of sources, which included a 19th-century museum record of a dugong collected by Sir Stamford Raffles, newspaper microfilms archived in the National Library and posts in Facebook groups.

The process occasionally involved forensic-level scrutiny, as the team had to painstakingly identify species from decomposed remains.

“Sometimes it’s a tail or half a body,” said Mr Ng. “There was a record one or two years ago within the Southern Islands... it was just the lower half of the body, but we could identify it as a dugong because of its distinct shape.”

Out of close to 300 reports, the team validated 124 records, confirming the presence of seven marine mammal species in Singapore.

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin was the most common species, accounting for more than half of the verified records.

Both the species and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin were frequently spotted off the Southern Islands. There were two accounts of both species swimming in the same pod together.

Surprisingly, dolphins were found to frequent urbanised areas rather than natural spaces.

Mr Ng said: “It could be that although our environment is becoming more urbanised, these organisms just keep returning to the same localities that have changed over time.”

Another hypothesis is that the dolphins have become habituated to Singapore’s urbanised coastline, he added, citing how dolphins in other countries have adapted to harnessing the urban environment, such as by feeding off fishing trawlers.

The second-most common marine mammal species detected was the elusive dugong, which is difficult to spot due to its shy nature and the murky coastal waters of Singapore.

“We have records of them, but much of their movements remains a mystery,” said Mr Ng. “They are hardly seen alive in the wild, except for low-clarity photographs taken... in the 2000s.”

A combination of live records, evidence of feeding trails and carcasses suggest that dugongs have inhabited the Sungei Johor Estuary since the 1820s.

This is despite these coastal spaces off Pulau Ubin, Pasir Ris and Changi being high-risk areas directly adjacent to international shipping lanes.

The researchers theorised that dugong mothers pass down knowledge of these movement corridors and seagrass patches to their calves, and that these busy zones could also harbour some areas of refuge.

Given the small populations of the marine mammals, the scientists recommended that conservation protection cover their hot spots in the Sungei Johor Estuary, the Southern Islands and the Western Islands.

Calls for protection of these areas were similarly made in the Singapore Blue Plan 2018, which had been submitted to the Government for consideration, they noted.

The proposal for conservation of marine ecosystems here was prepared by marine biologists, academics, volunteers and other stakeholders interested in the marine environment.

In the coming years, Singapore plans to reclaim some 1,000ha of land in the eastern end of the mainland near the Sungei Johor Estuary.

“The biggest gap of protection for marine mammals currently stems from a lack of knowledge on their ecology in the local context,” said Mr Ng. “We hope that the findings will help Singapore balance urbanisation and the preservation of natural habitats.”

Dr Karenne Tun, the National Parks Board’s (NParks) group director for the National Biodiversity Centre, said the paper would be studied carefully to enhance the statutory board’s marine conservation and management strategy launched in 2015.

“The Marine Conservation Action Plan... emphasises the protection of critical habitats, sustainable management of marine resources, and the integration of conservation considerations into coastal development planning,” she said. She cited the designation of Singapore’s first marine park at Sisters’ Islands and the announcement of the

Lazarus South-Kusu Reefs Marine Park as examples of NParks’ approach of protecting marine areas that benefit multiple species.

High levels of dolphin vocalisations detected off Sisters’ Islands and Kusu Island in the southern waters of Singapore played a key factor in safeguarding the location for the second marine park, she said. NParks supports further investigation into key stages of marine mammal life, as proposed by the scientists, and will continue to study acoustic data of Singapore’s marine megafauna collected by another NUS project, she added.

Members of the public can aid the effort to study Singapore’s marine mammals by submitting their findings to NUS database Mega Marine Life in Singapore at this website (https://nus.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9t6pDiphobpUAJg)

Saving gentle giants: 7 species of marine mammals spotted in Singapore
Ang Qing Straits Times Jan 19, 2026, 05:00 AM

SINGAPORE – Spanning records from 1820 to 2024, a new study has revealed the clearest history yet of Singapore’s marine mammals.

The Straits Times highlights seven species that have surfaced in the Republic’s waters and how scientists say they should be protected.

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis)

The most common marine mammal spotted here.

The species is seen primarily near the Southern Islands.

Local records indicate that the carnivore travels in an average group size of less than three in Singapore’s waters.

It appears to have adapted to human activity here. Its numbers have declined over the past two or three decades.

Dugong (Dugong dugon)

The sea cow, so named for its diet of seagrass, is the second-most commonly recorded marine mammal here, where it is typically found as carcasses.

It is rarely seen alive, most likely because of its shy nature and greyish-brown colouration, which blends into Singapore’s murky coastal waters.

It routinely returns to historical refuges in Sungei Johor Estuary, leaving trails in seagrass meadows as it feeds. It is often found alone.

The only recorded occurrence of a pair was a mother and its calf off Pulau Ubin in 1998.

As the mother had drowned from being entangled in a fishing net, the calf, named Gracie, was rescued and rehabilitated at Underwater World Singapore.

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

The third-most commonly seen marine mammal here is typically found in cleaner waters of the Singapore Strait near the Southern Islands.

Among the most common species, it has the highest average group size, at more than seven dolphins.

Its numbers have dropped significantly over the past two or three decades.

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

There are only two records here of the deep-diving species, which is rarely found in shallow waters.

Its nutrient-rich waste feeds phytoplankton, which absorb planet-warming carbon dioxide.

The species can grow up to 18m long.

It does not have an established population here. A female adult whale was found dead off Jurong Island in 2015.

False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

The dolphin has been spotted twice in Singapore’s waters. It is highly sociable and can form pods of up to 500, incorporating other dolphin species.

The carnivore has been known to eat other dolphins, although it usually eats squid and fish.

In 1994, a 3.75m-long female died off Tuas, after it failed to find its way out of a bay there after a week.

Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

This porpoise first surfaced here in 1996, when a carcass was found in Pasir Ris Park.

The carnivore does not leap out of water like dolphins do, making it difficult to spot in the wild. It frequents shallow water along mangrove-lined shores.

Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

The dolphin has been found here only once, in 2014, when its skeletal remains were found partially buried in the sand on a beach at East Coast Park.

The dolphin eats predominantly fish, spitting water while feeding to help capture them.

It tends to swim in small groups of up to six.

Threats to Singapore’s marine mammals

Habitat degradation and loss due to coastal development
Noise pollution
Vessel strikes due to busy territorial waters
Highly variable water quality and harmful algae blooms, which most likely result in unstable food supply
Entanglement in fishing gear

Hot spots

Sungei Johor area (Changi, Pulau Ubin and Pasir Ris)
Southern Islands (Kusu Island, Sisters’ Islands and St John’s Island Complex)
Western Islands (Pulau Hantu, Pulau Semakau and reefs in the vicinity)

Recommendations for conservation

Protection of marine mammal hot spots as nature reserves or marine parks
Speed limit of 10 knots at hot spots
Understanding foraging and reproduction activities (for example, mating, birthing and caring for young) at hot spots and their seasonality

Local marine mammal observer networks. In conjunction with International Marine Mammal Protection Day, the National University of Singapore launched the Mega Marine Life in Singapore platform for residents to submit observations of marine mammals at this website.

Sources: Ng et al, Thai National Parks, National Parks Board, National University of Singapore, International Whaling Commission

MRT tunnels planned under Sg Pang Sua

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:50:00 +0000

1km long tunnels will be built underneath Sungei Kadut Avenue, Sungei Kadut Way and Woodlands Road, to a depth of up to 21m. The first new station will be along Sungei Kadut Avenue. Work will start second quarter of 2026 and passenger service for the new stations will start in 2035.

Sg Pang Sua mangroves along Sg Kadut Ave
during our survey in Dec 2025

LTA has conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment and will implement “all the necessary mitigation measures” outlined in the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan, and will continue its engagement with various stakeholders, including nature groups, throughout the process.

LTA awards $326m contract for construction of tunnels for DTL extension, starting in Q2 2026
Aqil Hamzah Straits Times Jan 15, 2026

SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Jan 15 awarded a $326 million contract for the second extension of the Downtown Line (DTL), with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

Passenger service for the extension, which comprises three northside stations after Bukit Panjang station, will commence in 2035.

The particular contract LTA awarded is for the design and construction of two mainline tunnels, a tunnel connection to Gali Batu Depot, as well as other works at the depot.

Measuring roughly 1km long, the tunnels will be built underneath Sungei Kadut Avenue, Sungei Kadut Way and Woodlands Road, with a depth of up to 21m.

LTA said the tunnels will be built close to the North-South Line (NSL), with the extension to the DTL connecting to the NSL.

When the extension is completed, it will “enhance rail connectivity in the north-western region”, added LTA, shortening travel times for commuters travelling between the north and north-western parts of the island.

The first of the new stations will be located after Bukit Panjang station, along Sungei Kadut Avenue.

The successive station will be the new terminus for the DTL.

Located underground, it will connect to the third new station – an above-ground station serving the NSL. This station will be situated between Yew Tee and Kranji stations.

“It will provide improved access to existing and new growth areas such as Yew Tee and the future Sungei Kadut Eco-District, as well as amenities such as the Rail Corridor and Pang Sua Park Connector,” LTA said.

The contract was awarded to a joint venture between Woh Hup Engineering and Underground Technology Engineering Construction.

Woh Hup Engineering is currently involved in the design and construction of Punggol Interchange and Loyang stations. It is also working on the tunnels for the first phase of the Cross Island Line (CRL) and its extension with Punggol.

Underground Technology Engineering Construction is currently working on the construction of tunnels between Aviation Park station and the Changi East Depot for the CRL.

LTA added that it will work with the contractor to put in place measures to minimise the impact of construction work on nearby stakeholders and infrastructure.

The authority has also conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment and will implement “all the necessary mitigation measures” outlined in the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan, and will continue its engagement with various stakeholders, including nature groups, throughout the process.

Contracts worth $735m to build MRT stations for DTL extension awarded; work to start in Q2
Straits Times Feb 19, 2026, 07:25 PM

SINGAPORE – Construction on the three stations that will make up the second extension of the Downtown Line (DTL) will begin in the second quarter of 2026, with the two contracts awarded for them totalling around $735 million.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Feb 19 said it awarded one contract to Woh Hup Engineering, and the other to a joint venture between construction firm Samwoh Corporation and the Singapore branch of China Communications Construction Company.

For about $285 million, Woh Hup Engineering will design and build an underground MRT station in Sungei Kadut Avenue, as well as build a vehicular bridge to extend Choa Chu Kang North 7 and a pedestrian bridge over Pang Sua Canal.

The pedestrian bridge will enhance connectivity between Yew Tee, the new station codenamed DE1 and the Rail Corridor, said LTA.

Other projects that Woh Hup Engineering is involved in include tunnelling works for the DTL’s second extension, and the design and construction of Punggol Interchange and Loyang stations on the Cross Island Line (CRL).

It is also working on the tunnels for the first phase of the CRL and its extension to Punggol.

The second contract, worth about $450 million, will see the joint venture build two MRT stations that are connected to one another.

One is the underground station codenamed DE2 on the DTL, while the other is an aboveground station on the North-South Line (NSL), codenamed NS6. The NSL station will be located between Yew Tee and Kranji stations.

Passenger service for the extension is expected to start in 2035.

Some projects that Samwoh Corporation has worked on include the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel and the flyover slip road from Seletar West Link to Seletar Expressway.

China Communications Construction Company is currently involved in the construction of Tampines North, King Albert Park and Clementi stations on the CRL. It is also working on the viaduct and tunnels for the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link.

LTA said the construction work on the stations will take place concurrently, adding that earth retaining and stabilising structures will be used “due to expected complex ground conditions in the area”.

Such structures prevent the ground around a worksite from shifting. LTA said the works will take place near the NSL during non-operating hours to minimise any impact on NSL commuters.

The authority said it will work with the contractors to monitor ground stability in real time and put in place measures to ensure work is done safely while having minimal impact on people and infrastructure nearby.

LTA also said it will implement measures to control construction dust and noise during the works, and added that it would provide regular updates to residents and other parties on the progress made.

Once the extension is up and running, it will “shorten travel times for commuters travelling to and from the north and north-western parts of Singapore”.

For instance, travelling from Yew Tee to Chinatown will be 20 minutes faster, from a one-hour journey that involves taking a bus and then the MRT to a trip solely on the MRT.

Advisory to shield marine mammals from noise

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:23:00 +0000

According to the Straits Times, NParks is drawing up an advisory that informs developers on ways to avoid harming dolphins and dugongs in Singapore’s waters.

Dugong feeding trails on Cyrene opposite
Pasir Panjang Container Terminals, May 2025

Work on the advisory follows an NUS study compiling all reliable records of marine mammals in Singapore from 1820 to 2024 to identify hot spots.

This complements a separate project by NUS researchers that monitored the vocalisations of marine mammals between 2019 and 2022. Funded by NParks, the acoustic project highlighted that both Sisters’ Islands and Kusu Island recorded the highest number of vocal detections of dolphins, "playing a key factor in safeguarding this location as the second marine park,” said Dr Dr Karenne Tun.

She did not mention when the advisory will be ready.

NParks drawing up advisory on how to shield marine mammals from coastal development noise
Ang Qing Straits Times Jan 12, 2026

SINGAPORE – Developers undertaking marine works in Singapore waters will get guidelines designed to reduce underwater noise, in a move to protect the Republic’s elusive marine mammals.

The National Parks Board (NParks) is drawing up an advisory that informs developers on ways to avoid harming creatures such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and the dugong that frequent Singapore’s coastal waters, The Straits Times has learnt.

This comes as more coastal development projects are in the pipeline as Singapore combats rising sea levels and reclaims more land. In the coming decades, for instance, it is planning to reclaim about 800ha of land off East Coast Park to develop Long Island.

Industry consultants said the advisory will ensure that underwater noise here is dealt with systematically, instead of leaving its management to the discretion of developers.

Underwater noise is an invisible but potent stressor for marine mammals, which rely heavily on sounds like clicks and trills to communicate and navigate. Man-made noise can mask these signals, cause severe stress and impair the hearing of these creatures.

Due to the vast ocean habitat of marine mammals, it is difficult to track the implications of underwater noise pollution. However, studies show that sonar use has altered the feeding behaviour of blue whales and stranded others on beaches.

Dr Karenne Tun, group director of NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre, told ST that the measures could advise developers to gradually ramp up the intensity of marine piling works – a noisy process that involves driving piles deep into the seabed – while ensuring that no marine mammals are in sight.

This “soft start” approach gives marine mammals a crucial window of time to flee the area before noise levels increase further.

She did not mention when the advisory will be ready.

The development of the advisory follows a recent study by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) who compiled all reliable records of marine mammals in Singapore’s territorial waters from 1820 to 2024 to identify their hot spots.

Mr Sirius Ng, the paper’s lead author, noted that the research was initiated to establish a baseline for Singapore’s wild marine mammals.

“Because of the paucity of this data, policies protecting marine mammals tend to focus on the general marine environment, rather than being ecologically tailored for the species themselves,” he said.

The study found that Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins were mainly observed within the Southern Islands. The average sizes of their pods also declined, a trend that appeared most evidently over the past three decades.

Dugongs were most commonly spotted at the Sungei Johor Estuary, notably Changi, Pasir Ris and Pulau Ubin, where two international shipping channels meet.

Surprisingly, the paper found that over time, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins tended to appear in areas closer to urban areas with higher vessel activity, adapting to human activities in ways that are still not fully understood.

Dr Tun said NParks plans to study these important findings, which complement a separate project by NUS researchers that monitored the vocalisations of marine mammals between 2019 and 2022.

That project, funded by NParks, sought to understand the distribution of marine mammals in Singapore’s coastal waters as well as guide development activities in the waters.

“In particular, results from (the acoustic project) highlighted that waters off both Sisters’ Islands and Kusu Island recorded the highest number of vocal detections of dolphins in the southern waters of Singapore, playing a key factor in safeguarding this location as the second marine park,” said Dr Tun.

Singapore announced its first marine park to conserve the biodiversity at Sisters’ Islands in 2014, and revealed in 2024 plans for a second one at the southern part of Lazarus Island and the reef off Kusu Island.

Dr Tun said the acoustic research project emphasised the need to account for the impact of sound in the planning and staging of marine works.

Industry consultants said the advisory will also help Singapore develop its environment responsibly while avoiding delays and reputational concerns arising from negative acoustic impact on fauna.

Ms Holly Siow, head of ecology at environmental consultancy DHI Water & Environment, said the advisory will give “much-needed clarity and consistency for developers”, elevating acoustic impact to a core component of marine development planning.

“From a developer’s perspective, this also reduces regulatory and project risk,” she added.

“When expectations around acoustic mitigation are clearly articulated upfront, developers can factor them into project design and scheduling early on, rather than responding to issues later during approval or construction.”

Singapore’s coastal waters are rich in marine biodiversity, and ensuring mitigation is targeted where it matters most is essential to balancing development with conservation, she said.

Ms Siow called on NParks to consider embedding noise-related standard operating procedures into tender specifications for environmental impact assessments, as well as environmental monitoring and management plans.

Mr Lee Adam Harryman, head of the Climate Resilience Studio at CPG Consultants, said the advisory “should lead to better coordinated projects, fewer late changes and closer alignment between environmental safeguards and engineering delivery”.

He noted that “measures to manage underwater noise are commonly built into project approval processes at the government level” in some countries abroad.

He added that Singapore’s approach is encouraging because it is “grounded in local, science-based research”.

“This ensures the measures are tailored to Singapore’s waters and marine species, rather than simply adopting overseas standards.”

NParks’ move to draw up an advisory is consistent with practices in jurisdictions with established marine construction activity, such as Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States, where more sophisticated guidelines are already in place, the consultants said.

In Europe, standard measures include deploying marine mammal observers for high-risk activities, and bubble curtains – technology that uses veils of air bubbles to dampen sound waves, according to Ms Siow.

As the Republic looks to the future, the integration of acoustic monitoring can play a key role in long-term coastal management, said NUS researchers Hari Vishnu and Koay Teong Beng, who had worked on the acoustic monitoring project.

“Acoustics can especially play an important part in assessing the effects of anthropogenic events such as oil spills, or development projects around Singapore’s waters,” said Dr Vishnu, citing the technology’s ability to monitor at scale.

Mr Koay noted that while their initial study covered the majority of expected biodiversity hot spots, it did not cover the entire Singapore coastline.

They said: “Our study was done over a period of 2.5 years, so it would make sense to extend this to more continuous and longer-term monitoring so that our observations are not just limited to this period.”

Sentosa Tg Rimau still alive but quiet

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 05:14:00 +0000

We return to a beloved Sentosa shore, 1.5 years after the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill in Jun 2024. I feel the shores were quieter compared to our survey in Aug 2024 two months after the oil spill.

While seagrasses are doing well on the eastern side, on the western side, the Tape seagrass are cropped short. There seemed to be fewer hard and soft corals on the eastern side. The team saw interesting marine like the Tiger cowrie, many crabs and fishes. I will update with their sightings after they share their photos.

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. Lon found a Tiger cowrie! Also an Arabian cowrie as well as colourful reef fishes. The usual slugs were seen. And anemones like Giant carpet anemone, Haddon's carpet anemone and Frilly anemones. An Upside down jellyfish was also seen - in the past, we only commonly saw this further south. As the sun set, the octopuses came out to hunt!

Collage of photos by Lon and Rui Quan
Links to their albums below

Despite the heavy shipping traffic next to this shore which includes very large cruise ships, it is still very much alive. There were many colour crabs of all kinds, heartening to see juvenile snails which suggests the shore is a good nursery. The rocky shores were also alive with large Jewelled chitons, Giant top shell snails, and many colourful snails commonly seen on our rocky reefs. Was a relief that Big onch slugs were seen.

Collage of photos by Lon and Rui Quan
Links to their albums below

The sandy areas on the eastern shore were alive too. We saw a few Common sea stars, many sand dollars. Special finds include two Strawberry cockles, our first sighting on this shore. Also an Olive snail we have not seen before - seems to be same one Kok Sheng saw in Oct 2025.

Collage of photos by Lon and me.
Links to their albums below

There have never been a lot of corals on this shore. Today, I sense there were even fewer corals than before. Although there are still a variety of common corals, mostly boulder-shaped ones including a few large colonies. Most of the corals I saw seemed alright, I didn't see any bleaching corals.

On the eastern shore, there were much fewer hard and soft corals compared to our survey in Aug 2024 two months after the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill. On the western shore, I saw more corals, mostly small hard coral colonies and medium sized leathery soft corals. There were also very small colonies of hard and soft corals - hopefully suggesting recovery?

Sentosa Tg Rimau has among our last natural cliffs with natural rocky shores. The rocky eastern shores still had lots of nerites and large chitons, but the western rocky seemed quieter. 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. 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!

Erosion, slope failure and rock slides are a natural aspect of such cliffs. These can kill the precious plants and trees that grow here.

On the eastern shore, there are still many clumps of long Tape seagrasses (1m), one clump was seen with fruits. On the western shore, Tape seagrasses are still widely present but most of them are cropped short (under 10cm) or only moderately long (to 20cm). I didn't see any with long leaves. I didn't manage to check the seagrases near the seawall at Rasa Sentosa.

On the eastern shore there were still some Sickle seagrass leaves not cropped. Dense cover of Spoon seagrass (tiny leaves) cover most sandy areas among the rocky shores. On the western shore, seagrasses are still lush on the mid water mark. Lots of Spoon seagrasses (tiny leaves), some Needle seagrass (narrow leaves).

I'm trying to be more diligent about documenting seaweed blooms. Today, on the eastern shore, Sargassum is still in bloom, outlining the reef edge - these naturally bloom every year end. There was also a bloom of Halimeda green seaweed poking out from a dense cover of some other kind of seaweed - this covered and area about 10m. The entire western shore continues to be blanketed in a Bryopsis bloom which seems to be going on all the time, for some years now. We noticed this on other shores too, where Bryopsis blankets some portions of the shore while others are free of the seaweed.

Hope the shore can recover by the time we survey again!

Photos by others on this survey

Rui Quan Oh

Lon Voon Ong

Yan Le Su

Samuel Lau

Others on this survey: Muhd Nasry, Yin Chuan

Labrador Jetty closed 12 Dec 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 21:39:00 +0000

The jetty at Labrador is closed from 12 Dec 2025 for safety reasons until further notice - from the NParks website. Stomp reported four people were stuck on Labrador Jetty for three hours on this date. A fallen tree badly damaged and obstructed the entrance. SCDF used a ladder to bring the people from the jetty down to the beach.

Screen shots

Labrador is Singapore's last natural cliff on the mainland. Erosion, slope failure and rock slides are a natural aspect of cliffs.

Sign of slope failure near the jetty, Oct 2025

Sign of slope failure, Dec 2014

Labrador shore has been permanently closed to the public since 2009. The Casemate (stairs along the cliff face) were also closed. And some parts of the cliff were closed from 1 March 2023 to facilitate slope works. Until this incident, the jetty remained open, with fishing only allowed at the furthest end of the jetty.

Pasir Ris west still alive

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:05:00 +0000

Reclamation is planned near the western end of Pasir Ris. So a small team returns on an evening low tide for the first time since Mar 2020.

Although we didn't see as much diversity as on our previous surveys, the seagrasses are still doing well, and there were many carpet anemones.

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. Thanks to them for going all the way to the westernmost end of the shore. There is a canal there which also has interesting life. Kok Sheng saw an Estuarine moray eel, special sea stars and anemones, as well as other animals commonly seen on our northern shores. But the diversity is much lower than our previous surveys in Mar 2020 and Sep 2020.

Collage of photos by Loh Kok Sheng
Link to his album at the end of this post.

The most abundant animal seen on the shore is probably the Straw tube worm. They formed dense fields near the low water mark, and on the high shore, many of their empty tubes had washed up. The second most abundant animal we saw was Haddon's carpet anemones, large to tiny. They too were seen in clusters near the low water mark, becoming more dense towards the western part of the shore.

I had a quick look at the plants on the high shore. There were some common mangroves, a few tall trees, and smaller ones tucked among the Sea hibiscus thickets. As well as common shore plants. I was delighted to see the furry white jumping spider that is often seen in mangroves.

There were still patches of lush Spoon seagrass (large and small leaves) along the shore, somewhat to our last survey in Sep 2020 and Mar 2020. Towards the western end where it is sandier, the patches were more sparse. The shoreline is very soft and silty in most parts. I didn't see any dugong feeding trails today, the tide wasn't very low and most of the low water line was trampled by people. The last time I saw them here was on our survey in Jul 2017.

There was also large patches of Scalpel green seaweed throughout the shore. I saw similar blooms on Chek Jawa and Changi in the last few months. These seem to have displaced seagrasses to some extent. There were also large patches of Sea lettuce seaweed - which I also commonly see on this shore, as well as some patches of Agar-agar seaweeds.

I was relieved to see that the trash load at the low water mark was quite low (compared to the past), in most of the shoreline within NParks jurisdiction. But closer to the western end of NParks jurisdiction, the trash load was as I had observed in the past, quite high. Lots of trash also still accumulated on the high shore that is under the Commando jurisdiction. This evening, a large group of enthusiastic young people were out on the intertidal facing the Commando land, collecting trash to the happy sounds of music.

I noticed a fine sprinkle of white stuff washing up, and a closer look and touching it, suggests it is palm oil waste. This commonly washes up on this shore, sometimes in much larger clumps. Pasir Ris shores are impacted by oil spills and other pollution event. The most recent in Apr 2025.

What is the future for this shore?

The western edge of this shore is close to the area where JTC plans to reclaim about 49ha of land off Lorong Halus to "meet future demand". No date has been set for the reclamation. JTC said: “To enhance the biodiversity in the area, nature-based solutions will be assessed for suitable locations within the reclamation site. “Solutions being studied include creating a gentler shoreline slope or increasing its roughness and number of crevices to encourage intertidal and marine biodiversity growth.”

The rest of the team walked all the way to the western most end of the shore close to the location of the planned reclamation.

There are also plans to expand aquaculture in the area in 2026. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is planning to release farming spaces off Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. These spaces are now occupied by more than 30 open-cage fish farms. SFA said it would review the environmental impact assessment’s findings and feedback received from the public, and work with relevant stakeholders to minimise any potential environmental impacts of aquaculture development in the East Johor Strait.

Little dots around P. Ubin and off Pasir Ris
are locations of current fish farms.

What is the long term fate of Pasir Ris 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.

See Pasir Ris shores for yourself!

These shores are easy to get to, and enjoyed by many people. But it remains rich in a variety of marine life. More details in "Pasir Ris - Perfect intertidal getaway for the family" Today, it was heartwarming to see families with kids exploring the shore. There were also fishermen with line and rod, casting nets and kayak fishing.

Photos by others on the survey

Loh Kok Sheng

Zen Xuan He

Yan Le Su

Sungei Pang Sua mangroves and other neap tide meanders

noreply@blogger.com (Ria Tan) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:40:00 +0000

A lush back mangrove is growing high upstream of Sungei Pang Sua!

A few volunteers check it out on a neap tide and found tall healthy Critically Endangered Berembang! As well as other common mangrove trees and plants. Rui Quan also checked out some mangroves during the neap tide period, his sightings are consolidated here.

The survey was Arjun's idea for a catch up as he happened to be in town. It was Arjun who first alerted our survey team to the corals growing on the 2.5km East Coast seawall more than 10 years ago! He saw the Berembang at Sg Pang Sua long ago and we wanted to see if they were still there! And wow, we saw lots of tall mangrove trees, super tall Nipah palms!

Further upstream, the mangroves got really dense!

The Berembang were still there! This mangrove tree is rarely found in the wild, although they have been replanted in some coastal parks and reserves. At Sungei Pang Sua, there were many tall trees, and shorter ones. In fact, they seem to dominate the area.

I didn't see any flowers, but there were many fruits hanging down the long 'weeping willow' branches distinctive of this species. Fruits were fallen everywhere on the bridge of Sungei Kadut Avenue.

While there were lots of tall Perepat, the other tall mangrove trees I saw were mostly Api Api putih. But there were also very tall Nipah palms, dense Sea hibiscus and the usual common mangrove associates like Jeruju, Mangrove ferns, Baru-baru.

While the young ones checked out on the ground, I did the grandma thing and waited on the high shore with the auntie umbrella - really not used to mid-day survey. I saw some birds like Magpie robins, kingfishers, parakeets.

And checked out happenings nearby, There is construction going on very near the mangroves. And a silt barrier installed in the canal that led into the mangrove.

The construction area (near Sungei Kadut Avenue bridge) is visible on Google Earth. I am not sure what the construction is about.

We thought it might be for the underground Sungei Kadut MRT station, planned for completion in 2035. But the station is located quite far away from our survey site. So, really not sure what is going on.

I hope these interesting wild mangroves continue to thrive despite these developments.

More photos of this survey

Rui Quan Oh

Samuel Lau

Other mangroves checked out during the Dec neap tide cycle

The indefatigable Rui Quan had a closer look at other mangroves - some I have never visited, and others that I have not visited in decades. He saw the Mud Lobster, and Mound crab - elusive animals that I personally seldom see. As well as intriguing crabs like the Nipah palm crab that I have never seen. He also encountered my favourite mangrove animals like the 'ear snails', cute spiders and colourful bugs and the Crab-eating frog that sounds like a machine gun firing. As well as landscapes of the beautiful mangroves! It is so heartening to know that others care enough to check up on them, and to see that the mangroves are still doing well. Thank you Rui Quan.

Collage of photos by Rui Quan Oh

Rui Quan Oh's albums of sightings on facebook.

Admiralty Park 24 Dec.

Pandan Mangroves 21 Dec

Coney Island mangroves 18 Dec

Pasir Ris 13 Dec