Recovering East Coast shore with youth advocates

An entirely artificial shore at East Coast Park has one of the best seagrass meadows on the mainland and an amazing variety of corals. The regular volunteers are delighted to share it with the amazing advocates from Lepak In SG and Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity this morning.

For the first time we come on a rare super low tide in daylight! So we are able take a closer look at the corals that are growing in the 'corner' of the long seawall that forms the lagoon opposite the canal at the PCN. We arrive at sunrise!

Today, we went well beyond the patch of Branching montipora which is usually the limit of our observation on the usual tide height that we survey at. This shore was clearly impacted by 2024 mass coral bleaching that affected all our shores, but it has since made an amazing recovery!

The super low tide allowed us to have a closer look at the 'elbow' or 'corner' of the seawall that extends out of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, forming a lagoon around the canal that runs next to the East Coast PCN.

Updating with photos by Adriane and Kelvin: The berm facing seaward on the seawall is not as densely covered in corals. Healthy corals are a little difficult to spot from the distance as they are often not brightly coloured. Probably because the area is more exposed to waves, the corals here seem mostly to be the boulder shaped variety. Doesn't appear to be any bleaching corals.

There is an astonishing variety of corals growing in the 'elbow' of the seawall! Probably the more sheltered nook allows more delicate corals to thrive here? 

Adriane saw large well-formed colonies of Anemone corals, plate corals as well as clumps of Anchor coral and more delicate corals like Carnation coral! In deeper water, there were even table-forming Acropora corals.

Along the shore between the 'elbow' and the Branching montipora patch, there were many healthy well-formed colonies. Mostly boulder shaped and plate shaped corals that we usually see here. But also Anemone coral, some Galaxy coral, as well as a very large Lettuce coral. Interspersed with some smaller colonies of Carnation coral, Bracket mushroom coral, Merulina corals. 

It was really tricky to explore this area as soft silt had settled among the granite rocks that form the base where the corals were growing.

The large patch of Branching montipora corals (about 5m x 5m) has fully recovered! With nice brown branches. The last time we saw them was in Jul 2024 just after the Pasir Panjang oil spill and at the height of mass coral bleaching. Today, getting to see more of the patch, I notice there is a smaller area (about 50cm x 50cm) where all the branches were dead. But most of the patch is alive.

There are some patches of seagrasses at this 'corner' of the seawall. Some Spoon seagrass, Sickle seagrass and Noodle seagrass. Near the canal mouth, Isaac found a fruiting Tape seagrass!

While we were there, a man was cast netting and it seems he caught quite a variety of fishes. Which suggests healthy seagrass meadows and reefs. Adriane also spotted a young Grouper, which is quite commonly seen at the Tanah Merah artificial lagoon next to the Ferry Terminal. There were also Diadema sea urchins, many little crabs and shrimps. Other interesting signs of good health is a variety of sea anemone: some Haddon's carpet anemones, Giant carpet anemones (one in deeper water had a 'Nemo'), Fire anemones. Adriane saw what looks like a Merten's carpet anemone! Which would make it the most northerly record of this seldom-seen anemone for our shores!

This shore was also impacted by the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill on 14 Jun 2024. It was also probably impacted by the 5tonne Changi East oil overspill 28 Oct 2024. Oil that landed on this shore was not cleaned as thoroughly because it is not a recreational beach. The team take a closer look at and discuss the signs of oil that are still seen on the high shore. And inside the canal. Despite the continued presence of the oil spill from one year ago, the seagrasses and corals are recovering well!

Where did these corals come from?

The babies of these corals are from Singapore reefs! This chart shared in the Long-Term Plan Review shows coral larvae (babies) dispersal in our waters from mass coral spawning. This highlights the importance of protecting our 'mother reefs' so that they can continue to produce babies that settle all along our shoreline.

What is the fate of these shores?

These shores lie west of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and are slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review.

Technical studies for 'Long Island' 800ha reclamation off the East Coast were recently announced to begin.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is already happening now. Unintentionally, with zero replanting. Can we plan coastal works to allow reefs, mangroves and seagrasses to naturally regenerate? Naturalise canals leading to the sea for a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves? Imagine what's possible! Reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep, for all in the City to enjoy. More about this idea in my feedback to the Draft Master Plan 2013.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Check out the Sinapore Blue Plan 2018 which outlines community recommendations for all these shores. DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

See these and other East Coast shores for yourself!

It's fun and easy to explore these shores. More details in East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family.

This is what the corals looked like during a very low tide in May 2021
before the mass coral bleaching and oil spill impact in 2024.

Photos by others on the survey

Kelvin Yong


Adriane Lee