Changi still starry

Thanks to Marcus and Adriane for checking on various shores at Changi during the 10-12 Oct low spring tide cycle. From the photos they shared, good to see familiar favourites as well as some northern shore specials that I have not seen for a while.

Our northern shores are home to a wide variety of sea stars. Marcus saw two Knobbly sea stars. Good to know there were still Painted sand stars and Plain sand stars. As well as young Cake sea stars which still have long arms - when they grow up, their arms shorten so they look more pentagonal. I was so glad they saw Biscuit sea stars of various sizes including tiny ones. These previously super common sea stars had gone 'missing' on many of our northern shores in recent years. Good that we are starting to see them again.

Sentosa Tg Rimau is alive!

Thanks to Kok Sheng for checking up on Sentosa Tanjung Rimau during this low tide cycle. So that together, we managed to check on Labrador, Berlayar and Sentosa, the shores closest to the the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill on 14 Jun 2024.

There have never been a lot of corals on this shore since we started surveying. Kok Sheng saw a variety of common corals, mostly boulder-shaped ones. As well as a colony of Boulder horn coral which we seldom come across. He also saw a variety of medium sized leathery soft corals colonies. This is similar to our last survey in Aug 2024 two months after the oil spill.

Small Sisters is alive!

Just minutes from the Central Business District, are the living shores of Small Sisters Island. The two Sisters Islands are now designated as a Marine Park and managed by NParks. Small Sisters Islands is not open to the public. Our survey today was done with kind permission from NParks.

We return after a two year break and arrive after sunset for a rare super low evening tide. The corals seems to be doing well. The rest of the team saw Cone snail, Anemonefishes and more! 

Labrador still alive but rather quiet

Labrador is our last natural reef and best example of our original southern seagrass meadows on the mainland.  These shores were impacted by Pasir Panjang oil spill in Jun 2024 which occurred at the massive Pasir Panjang container terminal right next to it. As well as the global mass coral bleaching which started in Apr 2024.

We were overwhelmed having to survey many other shores during this period and had to miss Labrador until now. It is also my first time here since 2019. It was a relief to see that the seagrasses are mostly like they were before. But there were much fewer corals. The rocky shores were also quiet. The rest of the team, however, made interesting finds including the first mainland occurrence of a Giant clam! Some of the team surveyed Berlayar Creek at the same time. I will update with their finds later. Thanks to NParks for permission and their company during the survey.

Berlayar Creek still alive!

With kind permission and company of NParks, a tiny team surveyed this interesting shore next to Labrador MRT station with mangroves, rocky shore, seagrass meadows and sandy shores!

Thanks to Liz and Tammy for checking up on Berlayar Creek at the same time as the rest of the team surveyed Labrador. They found the Galloping sea star which we seldom encounter. The shore is not very reefy but they saw a few large healthy corals and a Giant carpet anemone. Compared to our last survey here in Nov 2020, there seems to be a lower diversity of animals. But I'm glad there is still life on this unique shore in the heart of the city.

St John's Island doing well

Just minutes from the Central Business District, lies one of Singapore's last natural cliffs at St John's Island. The rocky shore and reef edge has corals. There are also seagrasses throughout, as well as rare mangrove trees on the untouched western shore, which is part of the Sisters Islands Marine Park.

Today, the corals seemed fine, seagrasses still doing well. The rest of the team find special snails, 'Nemos' and other interesting marine life.