The team surveys one of our favourite sites, a submerged reef flat that is the closest to the ongoing
reclamation at Pulau Sudong.
So far, the shore is still alive! We didn't check the shore at peak mass coral bleaching last year. So it was a relief to see the coral situation seems as usual. Also a nice to surprise to see denser growths of seagrasses throughout the reef flat. The rest of team find Giant clams, encounter huge jellyfishes, special sea anemone and the usual colourful reef life.
The rest of the team explored the reefy edges more thoroughly. They saw many mushroom corals of various kinds. As well as lovely reefscapes of colourful corals and sponges. We always make sure to avoid corals in our landing - here, we are heading towards a bare sandy area, away from the reefy edge where the first landing party is already surveying.
As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. It was good to see mothers on the reef: a mama Noble volute with her egg capsule, and mama swimming crab with eggs on her belly. The rest of the team spot Spider conch, and the usual crabs, fish and nudibranchs common on our reefs.
Special sightings include two
huge jellyfishes. One was alive in the water at the reef edge. Another was washed up on the shore. A similar jellyfish was seen at Pulau Jong in 2016 with little fishes swimming near it. Lon also spotted a well hidden
Leathery sea anemone, last seen here in 2011.
The rest of the team checked up on the very large
Fluted giant clam on the reef edge that we first saw in
May 2021. It is still doing well! A large live
Burrowing giant clam was also found. Sadly, we also came across the shells of large dead Fluted giant clams and Burrowing giant clam.
Today, there was a large jack-up rig very close to western Terumbu Bemban - these are usually used for soil investigation. On Pulau Sudong itself, there were large heavy earth-moving vehicles on the seawall. We also saw a total of 3 propped up poles on Terumbu Bemban, arrayed along the length of western Terumbu Bemban. Probably part of the Sudong reclamation, although outside the work site designated in the Port Marine Notice.
The jack-up rig is probably part of the ongoing Sudong reclamation, From
Port Marine Notice No. 84 of 2025 "Soil Investigation Work at Sudong Island". With effect from 20 Jun 2025 to 06 Sep 2025. The scope of work covering the soil investigation works which includes offshore drilling at Pulau Sudong Island, sampling in each borehole, and/or marine Cone Penetration Tests (CPT). All shifting and movement of Jack-Up/Spud barge will be in daylight hours. Further enquiries relating to the project can be directed to
Mr Yutaka Senda, Project Director at
HP: 97227812
Email: yutaka.senda@santarli.com
We last surveyed in
Apr 2024, before the peak of
mass coral bleaching. At that time, I didn't see any mass coral bleaching. Today, the reef flat remains dotted mostly with small to medium and a few large boulder shaped corals. I didn't see any that were bleaching although some were rather pale. I saw a few of
Branching montipora corals and
Cauliflower corals.
There is a small area here that was densely covered with hard corals. I last looked at it in
Aug 2023, when I already noticed a decline in coral cover and variety. Today, it seems to remain less dense, with fewer large colonies on the reef edge. There seems to be more Leathery soft corals and only common hard corals. Fewer mushroom corals.
There remains many small to medium sized colonies of
leathery soft corals of various kinds scattered on the shore. Only a few larger clusters of them in the middle of the reef flat. I saw one Giant carpet anemone, one Frilly anemone and some Sea mat and Button zoanthids. All them seemed alright.
Today, I sense the seagrass situation is much better than our last survey in
Apr 2024. The sprinkles of
Spoon seagrasses along the length of the western shore facing Pulau Sudong seem denser. I saw many clumps of
Tape seagrass with longish leaves (about 20-30cm), many curling. Although most clumps were still cropped shore. I also saw a small cluster of
Sickle seagrass.
Spoon seagrasses now grow densely enough on eastern Terumbu Bemban that from a distance, the shore looks green! Here's a view of the eastern shore at our landing point.
And a view of the eastern shore facing Pulau Hantu and Pulau Bukom.
Last month, we observed good seagrass growths at nearby Beting Bemban Besar as well. Let's hope for the best!
Future of Terumbu BembanThe shores closest to the
planned 31ha reclamation at Eastern tip of Pulau Sudong are Terumbu Bemban and Beting Bemban Besar.
Large areas nearby are also slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the
Long-Term Plan Review.
The Singapore Blue Plan 2018Pulau Semakau and nearby islands and submerged reefs have been recommended by the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 for Immediate Conservation Priority. The Blue Plan recommends the intertidal and subtidal marine areas of Pulau Semakau and adjacent Pulau Hantu, and Pulau Jong to be designated Marine Reserve.
The Blue Plan highlights that Pulau Semakau and its associated patch reefs comprise many ecosystems: coral reefs, mangrove areas, intertidal sandflats, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs. The subtidal area of Pulau Jong is larger than the terrestrial area. Pulau Hantu is a popular dive site has seen increasing interest in the past decade due to biodiversity awareness. If protection is accorded to these three islands, zonation plans for use can be implemented to manage tourism and human impacts.
DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the
Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.
Photos by others on the survey
Kelvin YongRichard KuahTommy TanMarcus NgIsaac OngJayden KangLon Voon OngAdriane LeeOthers on this survey: Ian Mun.
