Two East Coast sites in one super low tide

On a very early super low tide, a small team surveyed Bedok Jetty AND East Coast Park Sailing Centre. These shores were impacted by the 2024 Pasir Panjang oil spill. It was a relief to see that they remain very much alive.

I returned to a small sand bar in front of a canal for the first time since 2009! And found seagrasses and special snails. I will update with the team observations, as usual, they make all the special finds.

Seems like we only survey Bedok Jetty once every 10 years: in Jun 2013 and Jun 2009. Thanks to Kok Sheng who inspired us to make this survey! Here's a sneak peek at Kok Sheng's photos of the colourful encrustations on the Jetty legs. There were special nudibranchs and cowries as well as crabs. I will update once the rest of the team updates their photos.

While the rest of the team checked out Bedok Jetty, I checked out the sandy shore that grown in front of the canal near the East Coast Lagoon Food Village (Carpark E2). I was last here in 2009. Seems there were major works at the canal in 2021 to 2022, so the marine life I saw today must have settled very recently.

West of the canal, there is a series of sand bag seawalls. These seem to provide a different kind of habitat for marine life, compared to granite seawalls which were covered with oysters. The lowest part of the sand bag seawall had dense growths of red seaweed, and in some places, there were pools of water on the sand bag. There were many small hermit crabs among the seaweeds, and at the base of the sand bags, many small Horn eyed ghost crabs.

The outermost western sand bar had much finer sand than the one directly in front of the canal. I saw some Olive snails that I rare see (conical spire) as well as the commonly seen Weasel olive snail (short spire). There were also some live Button snails (probably emerging from the sand to escape the predatory Olive snails, and some whelks that I seldom see. Also small Horn-eyed ghost crabs, moon crabs and some small Cake sand dollars.

On the seaward side of this sand bar there were dense growths of fresh green Needle seagrass (narrow leaf blades) and Spoon seagrass (large leaf blades). The most abundant animals there were small hermit crabs.

We then flew to the Sailing Centre for the remainder of the low tide. The seagrasses here are doing very well! There were still lots of fresh green seagrass growing along both sides of the long sandbar. Mostly Needle seagrass (both narrow and broad leaf blades) and Spoon seagrass (large leaf blades so dense that the leaves are growing upright). Growths seem denser compared to our surveys in Aug 2024 and Sep 2024 just after the Pasir Panjang oil spill in June. There are now larger patches of both Serrated ribbon seagrass and Noodle seagrass - I first saw these in May 2021 are still there, these two species are not as commonly seen on our shores. I saw one small clumps of Tape seagrass with long leaves and female flowers.

I only checked out the central area of this shore which seems rather quiet. I saw were fewer animals and lower variety than at our last survey in Nov 2024.

But Kok Sheng the Human Climbing Crab documented hard corals and sea fans growing on the seaward side of the seawall! He also saw special snails, the 10-armed feather star with a commensal brittle star. While Jayden found a Cake sea star! Here's a sneak peek compilation of his photos. I will update once the rest of the team updates their photos.

Once again, I notice many very straight narrow furrows in the seagrass. Finally convinced myself they are NOT dugong feeding trails. Probably left by dragging sailing vessels in low water. I saw similar trails near the pontoon at the seawall. I did not see any meandering furrows more typical of dugong feeding trails.

There seems to be a lot less litter collecting on the shores today. Not sure why.

What is the fate of this shore?

East Coast shores slated for massive reclamation outlined recently in the Long-Term Plan Review. There were additional details, plans for a 'Long Island' opposite East Coast Park is now official. In addition to more reclamation along that shoreline, already unveiled in 2013.

This shore will also be affected by plans for Long Island.

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! 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.

The Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Check out the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 which outlines community recommendations for all these shores. DOWNLOAD the Plan, SUPPORT the Plan! More on the Singapore Blue Plan 2018 site.

See these and other East Coast shores for yourself. It's fun and easy to explore these shores. More details in "East Coast Park - Surprising intertidal adventures for the family".

What the shore looks like in daylight.