Lost Coast dying as ongoing reclamation expands

This vast sandy shore is a habitat that is now rare in Singapore (thus 'lost') and home to animals that we seldom see on our other shores. This reclaimed shore in Changi East was in the past, remote and difficult to reach; thus 'lost' in yet another sense. In 2022, it was announced that this entire area will be totally reclaimed again; so it will likely be permanently lost forever. This area is strictly off limits without a permit. We surveyed with permission from various agencies kindly arranged by NParks.

The vast shore is clearly dying. Seagrasses have practically disappeared, animals in lower numbers and diversity than we have seen in the past. Ongoing reclamation on the eastern horizon is more obvious and active. We don't know if we can even see this shore again in our next annual survey cycle.

At the southern corner of this vast shore, we saw a band of seagrasses in Jul 2024 with dugong feeding trails. Today, where the seagrasses were, there is now just bare sand with some clumps of green seaweeds. We could not find the seagrasses that also was abundant on the northern corner.

Today, there is only one very small patch of seagrasses nearer the high shore. Still healthy and dense, but only about 3m square. Probably, the high sedimentation levels due to the reclamation cuts out the sunlight that the seagrasses need. And only those on the higher shore could survive.

But the shores are still alive. The survey area is rather shallow with wide sand bars in the distance that are exposed briefly at super low tides. Here, there were many burrowing animals that are only seen in such habitats.

Nearer the high shore, the vast sand flats are also home to many animals adapted to such situations. Singapore has lost most of our natural sand flats to reclamation and the Lost Coast was one of the few places remaining where we could see them. Today, there are still many shallow 'pot holes', probably made by stingrays foraging for buried prey.

There are still many hermit crabs large and tiny on the shore. We also saw a very large Orange sand star. But while we saw one Common sea star in Jul 2024, we didn't see any today. The Cake sand dollars that used to carpet the shore in such dense numbers that it was hard to walk without stepping on them, today were very sparse. We saw a few Haddon's carpet anemones and some Pearly anemones. I only saw very few signs of burrowing crabs and acorn worms.

Collage of photos by the team.
Links to their albums below.

The largest animal we saw were some Ramose murex. We had seen one large one on our last survey in Jul 2024. Today, we saw several, maybe as many as 5 (hard to deconflict sightings by the many members). This predatory snail feeds on buried prey. And there were still signs of many buried bivalves. Some we have not seen before.

Collage of photos by the team.
Links to their albums below.

The most abundant snails remains Bazillion snails, but their numbers were much reduced. Among were also the usual Dubious nerites. There were many Weasel olive snails and Moon snails were still seen, in a good variety but all much reduced numbers. We also saw Bonnet snail, Noble volutes and other predatory snails - all in much lower numbers of individuals. But no Fig snails.

Collage of photos by the team.
Links to their albums below.

Today, the high shore was almost completely clear of litter. In 

Jul 2024, there was a narrow line of litter, not unusual for a shore that is not cleaned daily - as our recreational shores are. A totally smooth clean beach might seem nice, but I worry this means the ghost crabs that usually have burrows on the high shore might also be missing. In fact, we already did not see ghost crabs on our Jul 2024 survey.

The ongoing reclamation is far more obvious today than it was in Jul 2024. The mounds of sand are higher, there are more vessels and vehicles, and the work site is closer to our survey site. 

The working site has been expanded to cover our survey site. From Port Marine Notice 99 of 2025. Dated 31 Jul 2025 With effect from 31 Jul 2025 to 31 Dec 2025.

A comparison Google Earth view of the area.

In Jul 2024, this is a photo taken from a regular plane landing at Changi Airport.

What is happening?
In Jul 2022, it was announced that the entire Lost Coast area will be reclaimed again.

Where?
The 900ha reclamation will bury all of the 'Lost Coast' at the eastern most part of Changi.

Why?
For purposes that appear yet to be determined by the authorities. In the Long-Term Plan Review, the area is marked as 'Reserve Site'. Planned reclamation at Chek Jawa in the Plan is also marked as 'Reserve Site'.

When?
Works is ongoing, apparently started around the third quarter of 2022. It is expected to take about 5-10 years to complete the reclamation.


Photos by others on the survey

Kelvin Yong


Che Cheng Neo


Richard Kuah


Loh Kok Sheng