First look at Terumbu Menalung next to Sudong reclamation

Terumbu Menalung is a tiny submerged reef flat that lies very close to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. Thanks to the team who surveyed this for the first time and shared all their observations.

Photo by Rachael Goh

They encounter a wide variety of corals and marine life, including the endangered Merten's carpet anemone. The situation there seems very similar to what they saw at Terumbu Palat in Jul 2024. Terumbu Palat is likely to be buried in the reclamation. I was with the team that surveyed Terumbu Bemban at the same tide. What we saw in both locations suggests that there is good effort to minimise impact of the large reclamation works.

Terumbu Menalung and Terumbu Bemban lie closest to the reclamation worksite. Terumbu Palat lies within the worksite and will probably be buried in the reclamation. The team already visited it in Jul 2024. 

From Port Marine Notice No. 55 of 2026 "Reclamation at Pulau Sudong" with effect from 08 Apr 2026 to 07 Oct 2026. The works involve the installation of navigational buoys, removal of metallic debris, demolition of abandoned jetty, dredging works, installation of marine staging platforms for soil instrumentation, infilling works, marine vibrocompaction, stone revetment works, and jetty construction to facilitate the reclamation and jetty construction works at Pulau Sudong.

There are also propped up poles on Terumbu Menalung. We also saw these today at Terumbu Bemban, and have seen them since our last survey in Aug 2025,  Could these be where they monitor the impact of the reclamation works? 

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

The water remains quite clear, despite being so close to the massive worksite. This is similar to what I saw at Terumbu Bemban today. The general situation on the ground gives me confidence that there is good effort to minimise the impact of this reclamation on nearby shores.

Photo by Rachael Goh

The tiny reef flat was alive! There were many Copperband butterflyfishes, as well as Blue spotted fantail rays. And well camouflaged fishes of all kinds. A variety of common crabs and crustaseans as well as nudibranchs and worms were seen. Red feather star, brittle star and common sea cucumbers represent for the echinoderms. Thanks to Lester for noticing the shorebirds that visit this reef.

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

There were large well-formed corals on the reef edge. As well as a variety of some less commonly seen corals such as Acropora corals, mushroom corals. This seems similar to what was seen at Terumbu Palat which is likely to be buried in the Sudong reclamation. 

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

Some of the common hard corals were pale or pinkish, a sign of stress. Seems only the small plate corals were bleaching. This is similar to what I saw at Terumbu Bemban.

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

The team saw medium to large colonies of leathery soft corals of various kinds scattered on the shore. Also, a variety of soft corals commonly seen on our reef flats. None of them appear to be bleaching. This is similar to what I saw at Terumbu Bemban.

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

The team also saw a variety of sea anemones including what looks like a Merten's carpet anemone, which we seldom encounter on our shores. It is listed as Endangered in the latest edition of the Singapore Red Data Book of threatened biodiversity. One of these was also seen at Terumbu Palat which is likely to be buried in the Sudong reclamation. Also seen, a Bubble tip anemone, Magnificent anemone as well as several Giant carpet anemones and Frilly anemones.

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

The team saw sprinkles of Spoon seagrasses and some Tape seagrass with longish leaves (about 20-30cm). This is similar to what I saw at Terumbu Bemban today. 

Photos by the team, links to their albums below.

Thanks to the team for checking up on Terumbu Menalung, and then surveying Terumbu Bemban too afterwards. Special thanks to Lon for looking after everyone, and Alex and James for getting us there and back safely.


Future of Terumbu Menalung

Large areas near the terumbu are  slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Pulau 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 the team

Lon Voon Ong


Rachael Goh


Richard Kuah


Lester Tan


Marcus Ng


Mathias Luk