How does crude oil harm seagrasses?

In the latest issues of Seagrass Watch Magazine (issue 41, Jun 10), Len McKenzie comments on the recent oil spill in Singapore and shares valuable insights and information on what happens when crude oil hits seagrasses.
Len explains that seagrasses are not so much affected by the "more spectacular oil slick" but are primarily harmed by "the absorption of seawater-soluble fraction (SWSF) of oil."

What is this SWSF thing?

Crude oil in sand: how fast does it biodegrade?

At Tanah Merah, we have noticed signs of crude under the sand. Why should we be concerned about crude that seeps into the sand?

Even after crude is removed from sight, most of the spill remains in the ecosystem and much can penetrate our sandy beaches. The quality of our shore waters, for leisure beach goers to serious fish farms, depend on a balanced ecosystem. Of microscopic beings and seaweeds and all kinds of other creatures, each playing their role. An upset system can have devastating consequences as the mass fish deaths at Pasir Ris illustrates.

Here's what I learnt about what we know and don't know about how crude naturally biodegrades and some possible explanations of our recent sightings on our shores.

How's Tanah Merah one month after the oil spill?

This morning, I head out for a solo check up on the Tanah Merah shore hit by the oil spill a little more than a month ago. How is it doing since our last check two weeks ago?
The big brown patches above the seawall is where the bags of oil-soaked sand sat for some weeks before they were finally removed.

How's the East Coast sandy shore doing after the oil spill?

I had a quick look at a stretch of East Coast Park beach that got hit by crude a month ago.
Just off the shady park, a vast sandy shore is exposed at low tide. It was heartbreaking to see vast amounts of crude land on this shore on 26 May.

Bleaching at Sentosa

A very small team checks out Sentosa's natural shores just before dawn.
We start on the shores behind Underwater World.

First trip to Terumbu Pempang Darat

This year, we hope to visit all of Singapore's submerged reefs! Only three reefs remain unvisited!
A small team head out this morning to do the first of these.

Giant endangered grouper served in Singapore restaurant

An endangered Queensland grouper is proudly caught and served by Mr Johnny Tan, the owner and chef of 2nd Kitchen restaurant in Balestier Road. According to media reports, the 150 kg 2m long fish is so big that it had to be brought in with a forklift.

Photo from Channel NewsAsia 29 Jun 10

The fish was described as an "underwater gladiator" that clearly fought for its life as it "took nine fishermen one hour to capture". It was caught in the waters off Sabah. The fish represents a S$15,000 profit for the restaurant but an immeasurable loss to biodiversity as the fish is rare in the wild, and needs to grow to 1m or more before it can reproduce.

How are East Coast shores doing after the oil spill?

There is small shore at East Coast Park which astounded us with marine life associated with reefs when we last visited in Aug 09. Here's some of our previous sightings.
Kok Sheng also shared about the awesome forests of magical sea fans that sprout on the sea walls nearby during a visit in Jul 09.

Bleaching at Pulau Hantu

Bleaching leathery soft corals are very obvious on the living reefs of Pulau Hantu that lie just opposite the industrial installations on Pulau Bukom.
It was disconcerting to see for the first time, bleaching in some kinds of animals that we have not seen before.