Muted mass coral spawning in 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Terumbu Raya in the face of Sudong reclamation

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

The rest of the team saw sharks, sea turtles and other special finds. I will update with their sightings later.

A restricted East Coast Park site continues to thrive

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

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

Artificial shores at Changi Bay are alive!

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

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

Beting Bronok still alive

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

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