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| Oil at East Coast Park, 7 Jul 2024 |
Organisms in the samples will be identified and counted for abundance and diversity of different species. The data can provide a baseline for future studies on environmental changes.
Want to volunteer for this? More information from NParks https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/intertidal-watch
Singapore launches 15-month study to assess oil spill impact on marine biodiversity
Ariel Yu Straits Times 8 Oct 2024
SINGAPORE – Researchers in Singapore will embark on a 15-month plan to monitor the impact of the June 14 oil spill on biodiversity in intertidal areas.
The national plan was announced by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee at a marine science workshop held at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Oct 8.
As part of the monitoring effort, researchers will collect sediment samples from the intertidal zone in coastal areas affected by the oil spill, said Dr Tan Koh Siang, a principal research fellow at NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI).
Dr Tan is part of the research team responsible for the post-oil spill monitoring effort, which will also include scientists from the National Parks Board (NParks), TMSI, St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory and the National Institute of Education.
The researchers will monitor affected sites, including East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve and Sentosa, as well as beaches that were not directly affected by the oil spill, including the eastern beaches at Changi Beach Park and Coney Island Park, NParks added.
By retrieving sediment samples from areas affected and unaffected by the oil spill, researchers will be able to tease out the impact of the toxic slick on the tiny organisms in the sediment, such as crustaceans, worms and molluscs.
Dr Tan explained that the oil spill could smother organisms and kill them, as harmful chemicals from the oil may be released at high concentrations. At lower concentrations, these chemicals may affect their physiology – referring to how living organisms function.
“These (organisms) have not really been looked at, so we are interested to see what effects the oil has on these communities that are not visually obvious,” Dr Tan said.
To monitor the impact of the oil spill on marine biodiversity in intertidal areas, researchers will first obtain and sieve through sediment samples collected from the study sites.
Organisms retained on the sieves will be identified and counted to account for the abundance and diversity of different species of invertebrates – creatures without backbones, such as small crustaceans, worms and molluscs.
Dr Tan said: “These data will also form the basis for understanding their community structure, which can provide a baseline for future studies on environmental changes when called for.”
The post-oil spill monitoring plan was announced after the Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima on June 14 hit the stationary bunker vessel Marine Honour at Pasir Panjang Terminal, causing half of the low-sulphur fuel oil in one of Marine Honour’s tanks – totalling 400 tonnes – to leak into the sea.
The oil spread to biodiversity-rich areas along Singapore’s southern coast the next morning, with oil slicks reported in several areas of Singapore, including Sentosa, Labrador Nature Reserve, the Southern Islands, Marina South Pier and East Coast Park.
The oil continued to spread and was sighted off Changi on June 16.
The spill occurred during a bleaching event in early June, when about 40 per cent of hard corals in Singapore’s shallow waters of the Southern Islands turned white and weakened due to high sea-surface temperatures.
Intertidal zones are areas where the sea meets the land, which become exposed to air during low tides and are submerged during high tides.
Oil floats on water, so intertidal areas were directly exposed to the oil slick when the tide ebbed. This is why intertidal areas are the focus of the monitoring effort, Dr Tan said, when asked if Singapore’s coral reef habitats would also be studied under the nationally coordinated research effort.
In Singapore’s southern waters, coral reefs are located mainly in the subtidal zone, meaning they are permanently submerged, even at low tide.
Dr Jani Tanzil, facility director of St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, said the research team will need to monitor the long-term impact from the oil spill and also look into the potential effects of other environmental disturbances. Specifically, the marine heatwave – which was also at its peak during the oil spill event – that has also affected important tropical marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.
One approach is tapping existing research and marine monitoring efforts such as the Marine Environment Sensing Network (MESN), a multi-institution project aiming to set up three research buoys that can deliver information about the condition of Singapore’s seawater, including on temperature, salinity, acidity level and nutrients.
Currently, only one buoy is deployed off St John’s Island, with plans to install the other two in coming months, said Dr Tanzil.
“So the MESN aims to obtain research-quality data that can let us better know what’s going on in our complex and dynamic marine environment. In-depth understanding of the processes driving our environmental changes will hopefully help tease out ecological impacts caused by the oil spill, compared to normal conditions and other disturbance events.”
Commenting on the significance of the 15-month plan, Mr Lee said: “While there’s been no significant impact on our marine biodiversity observed thus far, there could be a time lag between the incidence of the oil spill and its effect on biodiversity... We need to continue to monitor the impact, and the recovery, of our marine habitats.”
The data collected during this initial phase will be assessed before the team suggests possible mitigation and restoration measures to protect and restore biodiversity areas of importance in Singapore, Mr Lee added.
Members of the public who are interested in volunteering to help with monitoring efforts can visit NParks’ webpage for more information: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/intertidal-watch
Opening address by Minister Desmond Lee at the Marine Monitoring for Action 2024 Workshop
MND Oct 8, 2024
I am glad to join you at the inaugural Marine Monitoring for Action Workshop, organised by the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML) and the Marine Environment Sensing Network (MESN).
I hope you have enjoyed the workshop so far, and gained new insights.
Importance of Stewarding Our Sea Space
As a small island city-state, Singapore is surrounded by coastal and marine areas that are vital not only to our own environment, but also integral to the broader Southeast Asian region.
Our inter-connected waters are home to a diversity of marine life, and Singapore waters are home to about 250 coral species and about 700 marine fish species.
Our waters are some of the busiest in the world, serving multiple functions, from shipping and industry, food and aquaculture, to research, leisure and recreation. This coupled with climate change, brings significant pressure to the marine ecosystem.
The demands on our sea spaces are no less intense than those on our limited land, and even as public attention is very much focused on concept planning and master planning of the terrestrial areas of our city, there is also equal amount of work done to master plan our sea space. So we have to plan our sea spaces very carefully to balance the multiple uses, while protecting our biodiversity.
To ensure the sustainability of our marine biodiversity and its ecosystem, it is crucial that we adopt a science-based approach to monitor and protect our regional waters. Only with science and data can we make a strong case for conservation.
One terrestrial example is the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat site – for those who are visitors to Singapore, it is actually a very small area next to one of the busiest land crossings in the world at Woodlands, the causeway. The site could have been used for many other uses – security, industry and so on, because of its very prime location next to the causeway. It’s because of data and a strong partnership between the National Parks Board, the Nature Society (Singapore) and our nature community and scientists, that we were able to prove that the site is, and remains, vital to the survival of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the mudflat and mangrove area in the northwest of Singapore. The symbiotic relationship between the two sites meant that we had to rethink the use of Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, and hence it had been announced a couple of years ago as our next nature park.
The science and data, particularly for a very land and sea scarce island city-state like Singapore, is vital to policy. And this workshop, focused on marine monitoring, is not only timely, but also essential, as it brings together both local and regional marine researchers to strengthen our collective knowledge and protection of our regional waters.
Monitoring of the Marine Environment
The foundation of any effective marine monitoring effort lies in the accuracy and reliability of the data collected on marine habitat for the long-term.
It is no longer sufficient to rely on historical data and assumptions. Instead, we need systematic and effective marine monitoring to gather data for scenario mapping and analysis. These insights are crucial to help us understand the health of our marine environment, identify specific risks, so that we can develop targeted policies and actions in response to the challenges posed by climate change and urban development.
For example, in Singapore, the Marine Environment Sensing Network (MESN) has deployed a research buoy near St. John’s Island in November 2022 – I understand that you will have a field trip to the buoy on Friday. Another two buoys will be deployed near Chek Jawa Wetlands and Raffles Lighthouse. These buoys will help establish a baseline for key biogeochemical processes by collecting near real time monitoring data, such as wave height, biological productivity, and salinity.
This knowledge gained will form the bedrock upon which we would formulate strategies to protect and safeguard our marine environment.
Only by understanding our marine ecosystems, can we develop solutions to strengthen their resilience, and inform critical restoration efforts.
You may recall the oil spill incident that occurred in Singapore waters in June this year. An allision between two vessels at Pasir Panjang Terminal caused 400 tonnes of oil to be spilled into the sea, and impacted our beaches and our marine environment.
Our immediate response efforts focused on containing and mitigating the effects of the oil spill. Frontline workers were mobilised to clean affected areas; oil-absorbent booms were deployed to protect our sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems; affected beaches and shorelines were closed to protect public health and safety.
Additionally, with the help of volunteers and the scientific community, we also conducted surveys to assess the impact on our marine biodiversity.
I am glad that we have since reopened our beaches as the clean-up has been completed, and water activities have been allowed to resume.
While no significant impact on our marine biodiversity has been observed thus far, there could be a time lag between the incidence of the oil spill and its effects on biodiversity. We need to continue to monitor the impact, and the recovery of our marine habitats.
Integrated Oil Spill Response and Habitat Recovery plan
To support these research efforts and better understand the longer-term impact of the oil spill on our biodiversity, I am happy to announce that my colleagues from NParks is teaming up with NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute, St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, and National Institute of Education to develop and implement an integrated oil spill response and habitat recovery plan.
In the initial phase of the plan, the research team will carry out a 15-month national monitoring plan focusing on collecting baseline data at key biodiversity areas and of species of interest, and monitoring the post-oil spill ecological impact and recovery. So whilst the main recovery effort is completed, this work will continue for some time.
We will assess the data collected from this initial phase and suggest possible mitigation and restoration strategies towards protecting and restoring key biodiversity areas.
We will also continue to collaborate with local scientific communities, citizen volunteers, and partners to conduct post-spill monitoring surveys and research.
We intend to train more citizen scientists from schools, interest groups, and members of the public to conduct intertidal watch surveys at various sites across Singapore, because we believe that safeguarding and restoring our marine environment is a collective effort that everyone can play a part in – and it’s a matter of organising, strategising and building effective operational collaboration on the ground.
Conclusion
In closing, I would like to thank the organisers, and all who have contributed to this workshop in different ways.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the local and regional community for your invaluable contributions to our shared mission of safeguarding our regional waters.
Your dedication to science and to marine environment sensing and data collection plays a crucial role in protecting our precious marine ecosystems and biodiversity. And all the more important in Singapore as our waterways are heavily used and one of the busiest waterways in the world. If our biodiversity is to thrive, we have to put in double the effort and collect as much data as we possibly can.
I wish everyone a fruitful discussion for the rest of the programme. Thank you.