Pulau Semakau (West) in the face of Sudong reclamation

The full team survey this stretch of Pulau Semakau which used to be regularly visited as it is part of the public walk trail. We are trying to check this shore out more regularly.

I checked on the mangroves for the first time in a long while, with the massive reclamation at Pulau Sudong on the horizon. We still find Giant clams, seahorse and other interesting marine life. The rest of the team make all the special finds, I will update with their sighting later on. The corals seem okay. There were lots of lively sharks and sea turtles in the water too. The seagrass situation, unfortunately, remains unchanged.

Pulau Jong is alive!

A large team survey this untouched island, landing at sunrise. Corals seem to be okay, we didn't see any mass coral bleaching.

The tide window was narrow but the team managed to find many Giant clams and other amazing colourful marine life. I will update with their observations later.

EIA on impacts to Helios Secondary Reef questioned

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to how the report’s conclusion on impact to corals was based not on field surveys, but from a study that could now be outdated.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.

Coastal Protection Bill passed into law

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.

Other intertidal surveys in Feb 2026

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.

New marine science research centre of excellence to be established

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.