Return to mangroves at Marina East

A small team of mangrove enthusiasts return to the larger patch of mangroves at Marina East which Arjun Sai Krishnan first explored in Dec 2025. I was excited to share with them what we saw on our survey in Feb 2026.

A healthy patch of mangroves had settled naturally here. From tiny saplings among the cracks in the seawall to huge trees behind the artificial seawall and reclaimed land. We found a few more rare mangroves in addition to those we saw on our previous survey. Mangrove nerds were highly over stimulated. The rest of the team documents birds, fish and other wildlife that have also settled here. I will update with their sightings later on.

The most exciting find was the Critically Endangered Gedabu (Sonneratia ovata). A small healthy tree which was producing flower buds. These are mainly found in our northern mangroves. So far, I've only seen one at Berlayar Creek, that one might have been planted and perhaps not from native stock. Nasry found a small sapling of Dungun (Heritiera littoralis) listed as Endangered. 

The Mentigi (Pemphis acidula) listed as Critically Endangered, is still there and looking healthy but not flowering as profusely as it did on our last visit. We also admired and checked up on the Tumu Berau (Bruguiera sexangula) listed as Critically Endangered - and Kwan Siong taught us how to distinguish it from the more common Tumu (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza). We couldn't find any Api-api jambu (Aviccenia marina).

As I waited for the sunrise, I saw a glimpse of the seawall just peeking out of the water. It is the western most part of the 2.5km seawall covered in corals. We survey the eastern most part of this seawall at East Coast Park Area B, only on a super low tide. Our last survey here was in Nov 2025.

I had a closer look at the small sandy beach at the 'elbow' on the eastern most end of the seawall. The ground is super soft. On the mid-shore, a lot of litter had accumuluted. Including many single-use water cups, which likely come from ferries that ply our waters. These are not commonly used by beach goers or the local boating or fishing community. But these single-use water cups are apparently given out to passengers on ferries. It seems no facilities are provided at any of the piers/terminals under MPA's charge for vessels to responsibly dispose of trash generated during their operation. More in
this post.

The area we surveyed today is in the yellow circle.

Mangroves on this artificial shore seems to be quite resilient and has survived massive development as well as the Pasir Panjang oil spill and other impacts. Looking at Google Earth over the years, it seems there was always a wild patch in that area since 2007, remaining there despite the massive works in the area through the decades. To me, it seems the area became more conducive to mangrove settlement after the jetty was constructed in 2014. This created an 'elbow' and a small beach on the eastern most end of the seawall.

The mangroves and seagrasses on this artificial shore have returned after every massive coastal works. These are the mangroves I saw near the Marina Barrage in 2008. Growing on the western most end in the seawall. These were lost due to works for the MCE.

The seagrasses returned to the low shore below the seawall on western end in 2015, but were again affected by coastal works, probably related to the construction of the jetty.

The low shore on the western end in Feb 2015
Photo by Loh Kok Sheng.

By 2017, seagrasses were back on the low shore below the seawall on western end.

In Dec 2025, we surveyed the seagrasses that settled naturally on the low shore below the seawall on western end, and a tiny patch of mangroves has settled on the berm there. Today, I walked past them as the sun rose.

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 announced and preparatory works beginning.

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.

Photos by others on this survey

Zen Xuan He


Others on this survey: Koh Kwan Siong, Muhd Nasry, Yan Le Su, Jayden Kang, Ong Jun Ze, Ian Mun, Meijuan Foo.