30 May 2026

Other shores surveyed (May 2026)

Besides the main surveys, the team split up on some dates to also guide. To take advantage of the very  few super low tides during daylight! Many team members visited various parts of Changi. Other shores visited on this tide include Pasir Ris and Sentosa Tg. Rimau.
Collage of photos by the team. Links to their albums below.
People don't believe me when I say, Changi is among the best shores to see a wide variety of nudibranchs. No need to dive! Here's photos of recent sightings by the team, mostly by our nudi whisperer Jianlin who visited in April. Love the photo of the big orgy of Jorunna nudis complete with laid egg ribbons and chomped up sponges. Also, a new Singapore record of Limenandra fusiformis, many colourful slugs and flatworms too.

26 May 2026

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

A change in land use was announced which will concentrate food farms closer to and 'wrapping around' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. There are currently no food farms in this area, which previously was designated for military use and thus served as a buffer to the nature spaces in the Reserve. 
What potential impact? Land-based food farms can be highly pollutive, affecting the quality of water that flows through the Reserve and into the Johor Strait, where the fish farms are. We need to monitor closely these plans to move them so close to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

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

24 May 2026

Signs of recovery from 2024 Pasir Panjang Oil Spill

Studies suggest there is recovery on shores affected by the 2024 Pasir Panjang Oil Spill.
One of the studies involved 100 citizen scientists, who collected samples from 10 sites including Pasir Ris Beach, Changi Beach, Lazarus Island and St John’s Island for a year. These studies are expected to be completed by end-2026.

21 May 2026

Reefs on Ferry Terminal seawall doing well

Today, a small team returns to survey the amazing coral reef that has settled naturally on the seawalls of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Lush seagrasses also settled naturally in the artificial lagoon next to the Ferry terminal.
Corals on the seawall at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, May 2026

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

20 May 2026

Recovery at coral garden at East Coast Park

Thanks to Lon, Rui Quan and Dylan for surveying the amazing coral garden that has settled on artificial shores at East Coast Park. 
Photo by Lon Voon Ong.
In 2024, this shore was impacted by mass coral bleaching, the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill and the 5tonne Changi East oil overspill. Oil that landed on this shore was not cleaned as thoroughly because it is not a recreational beach. It's a relief to know the corals and seagrasses here seem to have recovered well in such a short time.

19 May 2026

Chek Jawa (South) still alive

We do our annual low tide check up on the southern area of Chek Jawa near the Beacon, with kind permission and support from NParks.
Various sponges on Chek Jawa, May 2025
We find healthy hard corals and soft corals, and sponges and sea fans. The seagrasses were particularly lush and green. I felt today that the southern sand bar had gotten wider, and that sand had built up on the landward side of the sand bar and in the area directly beneath the Beacon. The team make all the special finds: seahorse, stonefish, lots of Knobbly sea stars and more.

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