A restricted East Coast Park site survives the Pasir Panjang oil spill

Corals have settled on a 2.5km long seawall at East Coast Park stretching to Marina Bay! Seagrass meadows carpet the lagoon behind the seawall, while mangroves settled on the breakwaters. Our last survey was in Jun 2024, just two weeks after the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill on 14 Jun 2024. It was also at the height of ongoing mass coral bleaching. 

The team braced for a sad situation, so we were delighted to see that the corals, mangroves and seagrasses seem to have pulled through these events! In fact, we have our first sighting of Fern seagrass outside their northern stronghold of Changi to Chek Jawa! Thanks for permission from agencies to survey this shore.

The braver and younger team members surveyed the slippery seawall where corals have settled naturally. Thanks to Kok Sheng, we get a glimpse of the corals: mostly boulder shaped with many plate forming corals. Also one Acropora coral. 

All photos by Loh Kok Sheng

The reefy seawall (just opposite condos) is alive with familiar favourites: octopus, nudibranch, feather star. The usual colourful crabs and hermit crabs only commonly seen in good reefs. And large cowrie and Ramose murex snail.

All photos by Loh Kok Sheng

I surveyed the water line westwards between two breakwaters. At the 'corner' of a breakwater, floating things will gather and pool. Such as mangrove seedlings, seagrass seeds, and also litter and oil. Some mangroves have indeed settled naturally on the back of the breakwater wall. In Jun 2024, the seawall was heavily coated in oil and there was a large 'pancake' of oil at the base of the wall. The prop roots of the two bigger trees were heavily coated in oil. Smaller saplings were festooned with oil-slicked litter. Although it is painful to see this, I know that it often causes more harm than good to try to 'clean' mangroves after an oil spill. Today, the seawall and shore was clear of oil, and fresh green seagrasses growing at the breakwater 'corner'.

Today, the mangrove trees were free of oil, prop roots looked fresh and clean, and they were flowering and producing propagules. Even the little sapling survived and seem to have grown a little!

As usual, the rest of the team make all the special finds. Kok Sheng also saw large lush clumps of Tape seagrass with long leaves. As well as some fishes small and large, and some common animals usually found in seagrass. On the high shore, we saw one Haddon's carpet anemone with a Peacock-tail anemoneshrimp.

Photos by Loh Kok Sheng.

How delightful to see sprinkles of Fern seagrass! The first sighting for me of this beyond northern shores like Changi and Chek Jawa. I also saw a small patch of Hairy spoon seagrass, which I first saw here in Jul 2023. And there were many patches of fresh green Serrated ribbon seagrass.

The most widespread seagrass that I saw today was Noodle seagrass! They formed dense patches at the corner of the first breakwater, and along the shore westward towards the second breakwater. The leaves were very long (20cm), some had epiphytes, others were fresh and green. On our Jun 2024 survey, I only saw a few patches on them.

Similar to our Jun 2024 survey, I saw some clumps of Tape seagrass, both on the low water mark and in deeper water in the middle of the lagoon. All the clumps had nice long leaves, I didn't see any with cropped leaves. One clump had developing female flowers. There remains many patches of  Needle seagrass (both skinny and broad leaf blades) and Spoon seagrasses (both small and large leaf blades). I didn't come across any Sickle seagrass.

The eastern most corner of the lagoon next to the seawall of the canal, there was a dense bloom of Bryopsis seaweed. We have seen similar blooms on recent surveys of southern shores from Small Sisters Island to Sentosa.

This shore is closed to the public and thus not cleaned as regularly as our recreational beaches. There has thus always been a large and growing pile of litter here.

Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal on 7 Nov

Yesterday, the survey team supported a walk to introduce agencies to the corals and seagrasses that have also settled at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. We had a great time sharing the wonderful habitats and animals there. Most of us didn't take photos as we were working as guides, but Kok Sheng managed document some of the special finds. Like a live remora - a fish that suckers onto bigger fish like sharks. It is heartening to see the close and productive engagement among the community and policy-makers and agencies involved in plans for coastal protection. 

Photos by Kok Sheng and Ria

Where did all 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 this shore?

Massive reclamation is planned near the area we surveyed today as outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review. From Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Marina Bay.

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 for coastal! 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.

See East Coast Shores for yourself!

Although this particular shore is off-limits without a permit, you can see for yourself the amazing marine life on other East Coast shores! These shores are easy for ordinary people to explore at low spring tide. More details in "East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family".

Corals at another part of East Coast Park which is not restricted.

Photos by others on this survey

Loh Kok Sheng


Photos by Loh Kok Sheng of Tanah Merah Ferry terminal shores