Changi still starry

Thanks to Marcus and Adriane for checking on various shores at Changi during the 10-12 Oct low spring tide cycle. From the photos they shared, good to see familiar favourites as well as some northern shore specials that I have not seen for a while.

Our northern shores are home to a wide variety of sea stars. Marcus saw two Knobbly sea stars. Good to know there were still Painted sand stars and Plain sand stars. As well as young Cake sea stars which still have long arms - when they grow up, their arms shorten so they look more pentagonal. I was so glad they saw Biscuit sea stars of various sizes including tiny ones. These previously super common sea stars had gone 'missing' on many of our northern shores in recent years. Good that we are starting to see them again.

Rocky areas are still covered in colourful sponges and other animals. Changi is where we often find the widest variety of nudibranchs. They found the Black cow nudibranch, Kanga nudibranch and others more commonly seen on northern shores. Also Volvatella slugs which are sap sucking slugs with a thin shell. Changi is also rich in a variety of sea cucumbers. Besides the Pink warty sea cucumbers and Thorny sea cucumbers which are super common, also seen were some sea cucumbers I've not seen for a while: Polka dotted sea cucumber and Plasticky sea cucumber, both only common on our northern shores. These shores are nurseries for young fish and also small horseshoe crabs. 

Thanks to Adriane for sharing photos of young mangrove trees settling naturally on artificial seawalls in the area. Also good to see there is still Needle seagrass (narrow leaves) and Spoon seagrass (big and small leaves). And from photobomb of an animal, Fern seagrass - only seen our Northern shores like Changi, Chek Jawa and Pulau Sekudu. 

What is the fate of these shores?

In 2013, the plans were to reclaim all of Pasir Ris, all of Changi from Carpark 1 to Carpark 7 and beyond, and reclaim Chek Jawa and Pulau Sekudu. These appear to remain in place in the Long-Term Plan Review. Including plans for a road link that starts at Pasir Ris, crosses to Pulau Ubin, right across Chek Jawa to Pulau Tekong, and back to the mainland at Changi East.

In Jul 2025, it was announced that adjustments were made to protect seagrasses at Changi from Carpark 6 to 7, in a planned 193ha reclamation to develop an aviation park. The original reclamation outlined in the Long-Term Plan, was cut by nearly one-fifth, or 45ha. This adjustment will benefit a seagrass area of about 34ha. But a study found seagrasses off the north of Changi Beach Park, Changi Golf Club and Chek Jawa Wetlands are expected to suffer from a “slight negative impact”, even if measures to blunt the reclamation’s impact are adopted. Corals within the project’s footprint and a surrounding buffer area will be transplanted elsewhere before development works begin. No timeline was given for the reclamation.

See Changi shores for yourself!

They are easy to get to, and enjoyed by many people. It remains rich in marine life. More details in "Changi - an easy intertidal adventure for the family".

Marcus Ng was at Changi Point on 10 Oct and 12 Oct


Adriane Lee
Changi Point 11 Oct


Changi Carpark 6 on 12 Oct