$1million project on transplanting seagrasses in Singapore

NParks and OCBC Bank will embark on Singapore’s first seagrass restoration project. Focusing on successful transplanting of seagrass at locations in decline.

Dugong feeding trails seen in seagrass meadows
at Chek Jawa, May 2024

Researchers will trial innovations to transplant seagrass in Singapore to find out which restoration techniques will work best. The aim is to start restoring seagrass meadows within the first year of the project so there is time to track their progress. Suitable locations have not been pinned down yet. OCBC staff volunteers and members of the public will be invited to volunteer as part of the project, with more information to be shared when ready. During the research, these volunteers will conduct survey on the plants’ flowering process, assist in the transplanting procedures and more.

Oiled East Coast shore: seagrasses still there

I did a quick check on this shore which was not cleaned after it was impacted by the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill on 14 Jun 2024.

The 'House of Horrors' under the bridge in the canal is still there, but doesn't glisten as much; sand seems to be piling up thus making the 'drip' less obvious. Seagrasses are still growing lush. The tide was not low enough for me to check on the corals.

Still quiet at oil slicked East Coast Park (Sailing Centre)

I make a quick survey at East Coast Park (Sailing Centre) to check for impact from the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill on 14 Jun 2024, about three months ago.

Like last month, I didn't see any oil slicks on the shore. The seagrasses are still there, and there is still life on the shore although not much more than last month. Compared to our last survey here before the oil spill in May 2024, there were far fewer animals and many missing animals.

Sentosa Tg Rimau - no large oil spill impacts

A small team surveys this shore that lies just across from the site of the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill on 14 Jun 2024, about two months ago. We covered the whole shore from Resorts World on the eastern side around Tanjung Rimau Beacon to the western side at Rasa Sentosa.

We are relieved to see no large oil spill impacts. The seagrasses are doing well, rocky shores and sandy shores are still lively, and the rare trees on the shore still thriving. Corals seem okay despite mass coral bleaching.

Mass coral bleaching at Terumbu Semakau

A small team returns to this submerged reef lies right next to Singapore's only landfill and near the petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom, and less than an hour away from the Central Business District.

We return to check on the impact of mass coral bleaching here. We estimate only about 10% of hard and soft corals were bleaching. The big anemones and other cnidarians were fine. The seagrass situation seems unchanged, and the rest of the team saw two Giant clams and a snake! 

Lively at Pulau Sekudu

Well before dawn, a small team surveys one of our favourite shores, Pulau Sekudu or Frog Island that lies just off Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin. There doesn't seem large impacts from mass coral bleaching, the seagrasses are still doing well, and there were good growths of sponges, sea fans and other colourful marine life.

Pulau Sekudu is off limits since 2007 and requires special permission from NParks. Thanks to NParks for permission and support to do these predawn low spring tide surveys of the island.