For the first time, I survey these Changi shores at low spring tide. They were impacted five months ago by the
300-tonne oil spill in the East Johor Strait, My last survey of this series of shores was in
Mar 2017 two months after the oil spill at a low neap tide which doesn't expose much of the shore..
At low spring tide, I could see more of the shore. The seagrasses are no longer bleaching! And I saw some of the usual animals, although the shore is less lively than usual. I also checked out Changi Creek, the mangroves up the Creek and shores at Carpark 3. I did not see any signs of massive oil spill impact.
The Changi Creek seagrass meadows were lush and green.
All S
poon seagrass, mostly fresh and green and not covered with epiphytes.
The last time I surveyed this shore at low spring tide was in
Jun 2016, before the oil spill. I saw a few carpet anemones, most were
Haddon's and one looked like a
Mini carpet anemone.
One of the Haddon's carpet anemones had a tiny shrimp living in it. It looks a little different from the usual kind.
I saw one medium sized
Biscuit sea star. The seagrasses were dotted with small
Warty pink sea cucumbers. I saw a few
Orange sea cucumbers. But I didn't see any
Thorny sea cucumbers. The sand bar was dotted with buried
Ball sea cucumbers. On my last trip in
Jun 2016 I saw larger numbers and a wider variety of echinoderms.
I saw two
Cerianthids in the seagrass meadows, one with
Phoronid worms. I also saw two
Flowery sea pens. On the rocky shores I saw two small
Pink flowery soft corals, one washed up
sea fan. There were some small patches of
Zebra coral. On my last trip in
Jun 2016 I saw more sea fans and Zebra corals.
The rocky shores there were dotted with marine life and much was covered in Melted chocolate sponge.
The rocks were still lively at the high water mark. Some had patches of
Little black nesting mussels. One
Spiral melogena was eating them, and I saw some of their egg cases. There were many
Drills and clusters of them were laying eggs. There were many
Banded bead anemones and I saw some
Onch slugs.
The most abudant animals on the rocky shore were
Melted chocolate sponge coating the rocks on the low water mark, and
Button zoanthids on the higher shore in one corner.
At the low water mark on the rocks I saw several different kinds of sponges, but only one or two clumps of each kind. There were also many
Thumbs-up sea squirts and
Yellow clustered bead ascidians. Surprisingly, I only saw one
Branching purple sponge, which is usually the most abundant sponge on this shore.
On the sandy areas and among the seagrasses, it was good to see many different kinds of buried worms on the shore. Including
Solitary tubeworms and other more colonial
tubeworms. As well as holes made by mystery burrowing animals. It suggests the ground is not heavily polluted.
As the tide turned, I didn't see any signs of sheen on the water or puddles of oil collecting on the waterline.
The little mangrove sapling on the seawall that was somewhat oiled, seems fine now!
Sadly, as usual, there remained a line of plastic litter along the mid-water mark. Many were coated in oil and this will remain a source of oil pollution until they are removed. Although this beach is cleaned everyday, only the high tide line is cleaned.
The area on the high shore where water drains out onto the shore is clear of trapped oil.
I didn't see any otters today, but did see a sign about what to do if we encounter otters. That's great. Although the sign is a little high up on the pole and hard to read.
After the tide turned, I headed out to check Changi Creek itself. The bare patch of grass on the high shore affected by oil spill cleanup is now green again.
The mudflats and seawall looks normal and I didn't see any signs of sheen. Although there is still the stain of oil on the drain wall.
The boom across the drain has been untied, but is still left on the shore. Another boom near the bridge is still there. Why are they not properly disposed?
The mangrove trees and saplings growing at the mouth of the Creek near the Ferry Terminal seem alright. In fact, one of them was in full blooming.
There is a 'jetty' next to the Ferry Terminal. This 'jetty' is still well used by fish farmers. It was very busy as the tide was coming in.
I headed upstream to the mangroves at Changi Creek. It is very close to Changi Airport!
Next to a busy four-lane road, the mangroves looked alright. No massive yellowing leaves or bare branches.
Most of the
Bakau kurap trees were producing propagules that were nice and long. I didn't see any propagules with odd colours. I also saw two
Api-api putih trees that were blooming profusely.
But I only saw a few saplings higher upstream. Most of the other saplings are no longer there.
I saw two G
iant mudskippers, one
Blue-spotted mudskipper and many small fishes swimming in the water. Some parts of the mud stream banks had
Leaf oysters that seemed alive.
At Changi Beach near Carpark 3, the oiled stakes and geobags are still there and still falling apart.
Amazingly, I still saw living barnacles and some living
Periwinkle snails on the stakes!
Erosion still happening behind the stakes. When are they going to realise this is not working?
It's a relief to see the shores did not seem too badly affected by the oil spill so far.
Abel Yeo surveyed this shore
on 28 May and saw sea fans and a variety of marine life.
Posts about the Jan 2017 Johor Strait oil spill
Survey on 10 Feb, one month after the oil spill
Other surveys and news posts
