Wild mangroves at Marina Bay!

Wild mangroves have settled on the seawall at Marina East next to the Marina Barrage! Thanks to Kok Sheng's prodding, we return here for the first time since 2017.

I am so delighted to see a variety of healthy mangroves and coastal plants growing on the seawall. Seagrasses are also growing well on the low shore with long Tape seagrass!

Thanks to Kok Sheng and Kelvin who surveyed the lower shores, we get a glimpse of life on the seawalls. Lots of snails, onch slugs. As well as an octopus and mudskippers.

Collage of photos by Kok Sheng and Kelvin.

Kok Sheng documented the large patch of Needle seagrass (broad leaves) infested with countless Dubious nerites! He also saw three clumps of Tape seagrass with long leaf blades (hurray!). And some Spoon seagrass (small leaves), narrow leaved Needle seagrass as well as some Noodle seagrass. There were shorebirds hunting on the shore suggesting there is lots of marine life to catch. Special finds include a mantis shrimp!

Photos by Kok Sheng

But I was obsessed with the mangroves! The seawall east of the Marina Barrage has a broad berm, forming a kind of step between the sandy lagoon, before another steeper seawall against the high ground and park. It seems the highest tide doesn't even broach the steep wall behind the berm because the wall is not covered in algae.

A kind of 'back mangrove' habitat is forming at the top of berm, below the steep wall. With lots of mangrove trees and shrubs! There are also lush patches of plants typical of such areas: Beach morning glory, Gelang laut, sedges (which are not grasses). As well as snails usually found in mangroves: Rodong, ceriths and even fiddler crabs! There are small pools with fishes (too fast for me to photograph). Plus also all the biting insects, unfortunately. There are also Nipah palm fruits washed up, will they grow successfully?!

Mangrove saplings also settling down on the seawall curving out to the sea, and on the sandy area beneath the seawall. I only did this area after sunset because I was so engrossed in the upper seawall during daylight.

In the distance, there is a seawall that also appears to have mangroves growing on it. I'm not sure whether it is accessible to the public though. 

Coastal plants seen include several big shrubs of Chengam and Sea hibiscus, a small Gambir laut, and even a small Seashore pandan.

As well many Teruntum, two tall bushy Terumtum putih flowering profusely, one small Terumtun merah flowering. 

There a good variety of mangrove species too. The most abundant seems to be Nyireh bunga: 3 tallish (about 2m), 4 shrubs (under 1m) and several small ones. One of the tall ones had flower buds, not yet open.

There were a few small Rhizophora all tipping over, maybe their prop roots just couldn't take hold? Also some small Bruguiera, one had buds suggesting it is B. cylindrica.

There were many small Tengar saplings (under 50cm), too young to be sure of the species. There was one Perepat: it was the tallest tree but had lots most of its leaves. The remaining leaves seen alright. Also one Buta buta.

When we last surveyed this shore in 2017, there were no mangroves growing on the berm. Just pools of water. So all this growth must have happened in the last 8 years! With mangroves settling naturally, no planting.

Long ago, a lush mangrove had already settled on this shore next to the seawall. I first saw this in 2008. The mangrove were cleared, and the shores off limits when works on the MCE started in 2009. It shouldn't be surprising to see the mangroves once again settling on this same spot.

Looking at Google Earth screen shot, our survey area is in the blue circle. I am intrigued to see the dark straight line that joins up to the shore at East Coast Area B (yellow arrow). Is this an underwater seawall? Is the seawall covered in corals? So much more to discover and learn!

Washed up on the high shore were many dead fishes. Possibly fresh water fishes that got flushed out from Marina Reservoir when the Barrage discharges? So probably NOT a mass fish death incident.

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.

Photos by others on this survey

Loh Kok Sheng



Kelvin Yong