Another $135 million injected into coastal protection

Singapore is injecting another $135 million under the Coastal and Flood Resilience (CFR) Funding Initiative. For research for practical solutions in construction efficiency for future coastal works; tidal gates and pumping stations; and enhance digital predictive maintenance and monitoring. 

Authorities will explore how inland flooding facilities can be integrated with green spaces and public use, so that these flood-protection measures are not just a single-purpose infrastructure but ones that people can also enjoy”. One project aims to combine conventional coastal structures with natural habitats such as mangroves and corals – living components that can help protect the shore and provide ecological benefits.

Study into energy infra on Pulau Tekong reclaimed land

A 200ha site on reclaimed land at Pulau Tekong is being studied for a possible energy infrastructure cluster. Comprising hydrogen-ready natural gas-fired power plants, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and other low-carbon energy technologies. A consultant is expected to be appointed by mid-2027 for the 2-year study. 

Singapore currently relies on imported natural gas for 93% of its energy needs and produced about 13 gigawatts of electricity in the first half of 2025. The study will look into generating 6 gigawatts of domestic power generation and 2 gigawatts of electricity imports via three designated sea corridors. There are currently 13 electricity import projects in the works, with a combined capacity of more than 9 gigawatts. The projects cover solar, wind and hydropower from Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Australia. The study will also look into accommodating nine to 15 telecommunication submarine cables via three to five designated sea corridors connecting to the area within Pulau Tekong.

SGFish: free app to ID Singapore fishes

SGFish by the Ichthyological Society of Singapore (ISS) can identify more than 900 species using an image recognition model. Users snap a photograph of their catch via the app, and the program will identify the species. It will also log down where each find was made.

It includes a pop-up feature that alerts users on what to do if a scanned fish is a protected, rare or harmful species. For example, if an endangered fish is caught, users are advised to release it. ISS co-founder Andriel Cheong hopes the database built from these records can inform environmental impact assessments, giving the authorities a clearer picture of marine biodiversity when planning coastal developments.

$60m NIMOS to help “make good decisions supported by science”

NIMOS director Huang Danwei hopes the institute can help decision-makers weigh the value and services that ecosystems provide, especially for the upcoming Long Island and western island developments.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, said NIMOS will help Singapore “make good decisions supported by science”. Said Chee: “I think members of the marine research and conservation community would agree with me that this is something that we need to do our best, to preserve as much as possible to minimise the impact as far as we can.”

Preparatory Works for Long Island: Update by HDB

HDB updated its environmental study with more data on fish communities, horseshoe crabs and sea turtles. The impact on these 'unlikely to be significant'. Agencies will work closely with experts to explore measures to minimise harm to nesting turtles during the preparatory works.

Works will be conducted at least 130m away from the shoreline. Infill materials, which include sand, will be placed in a controlled manner using a pipeline system, minimising disturbance to shallow shoreline habitats. A timeline for when the works will commence has not been revealed.

HDB will explore creating suitable habitats along the future coastline to support turtle nesting, as well as future recruitment of coral larvae and seagrass fragments. It will also assess early transplantation of coral or seagrass communities ahead of the long-term plans for Long Island to allow more time for marine biodiversity to grow and thrive.

While the formal consultation period has closed, the public is welcomed to continue sharing feedback at this website. The next phase of public engagement is planned to start from end-2026.

Western Island timeline, reclamation profile TBD: Chee Hong Tat

Details of the upcoming western island, such as its reclamation profile, land use plans, construction methods and timeline, have yet to be determined, said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat in a written response to Parliamentary Questions raised by 13 MPs from both sides of the House.

Pulau Jong and The Landfill from natural Pulau Semakau
all enclosed in the profile announced by the PM.

The Government will conduct technical studies to inform development plans, including the reclamation profile. “We have been and will continue to engage stakeholders early, including nature groups, domain experts and descendants of former island communities and community representatives,”

70 pax to Pulau Hantu on a ferry? CAN!

Mass visits to our Mother Shores, can? We test this out during our annual Family Day for regular team members. Who valiantly brought family and friends from all ages and backgrounds to visit Pulau Hantu at a high tide (2m).

Despite the hazy day, most enjoyed the stroll around the island, although many would have preferred a low tide visit. We had a little booth to share photos of the Mother Shores. Her biodiversity as well as history. A scope to look at more distant places (challenging with the haze). And everyone shared heartfelt thoughts about their hopes and dreams for Pulau Hantu.

Govt to map coastal habitats after Western Island announcement

Two days after the announcement of Western Island, NParks issued a tender for a 15-month mapping of reefs, seagrasses and mangroves through high-res satellite images. "The map will quantify any changes to the habitats since 2018, supporting sea space and conservation planning across Singapore. As with previous mapping efforts, the geospatial dataset from this study will be made publicly available."

Huang Danwei, deputy head of the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said the results from the study will be critical for mitigating the impacts of ongoing coastal development projects and planning upcoming projects.

Marine biologist Ow Yanxiang, senior research fellow at the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory said: “Our coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves forests have survived our nation’s many years of growth and development, so can we engineer ways to build our future with nature, instead of over it?”

Orang Laut SG, an initiative to preserve the maritime heritage of islanders living on Pulau Semakau, has called for cultural and social impacts to be considered, as well as continued access to the surviving islands, coral reefs and coastal waters. “Environmental assessments alone cannot account for the loss of heritage, community access, livelihoods, traditional knowledge and relationships with the sea.”

Western Island: Govt will study Mother Shores and listen to stakeholders

Ministry of National Development (MND) told The Straits Times: “As part of the planning process, the Government will be conducting technical studies to inform the development plans, including the reclamation profile. These studies include feasibility studies, site investigations and surveys, as well as engineering and environmental studies, to better understand the various development possibilities and their preliminary impact on areas like biodiversity and hydrodynamics.”

Eleven scientists and nature groups spoke to ST. They stressed the need for comprehensive studies and public consultation before reclamation begins because they believe the works will cause irreversible loss to the mature habitats in the area.

MND said that stakeholders will be engaged to listen to their inputs before studies and work commence, with their feedback carefully considered. “Their knowledge and expertise will help inform the studies, assess potential biodiversity impact and identify measures to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts where possible.”

Share YOUR views on REACH until 3 Sep. REACH would like to hear your views on the PM's National Day Rally Speech. Your views are important to us. It will help us understand what matters most to you, so that we can prioritise these as we work together to shape a better future for Singapore. 

New 'Western Island' to merge all southern reefs

A new 'Western Island' to be created 'in the coming decades' merging Pulau Semakau, Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sudong and possibly Pulau Hantu, Pulau Jong and Pulau Sebarok. 

A new link will also be built to connect Jurong Island to the new western island. These long-term plans are being studied carefully, said PM Wong. 

Beting Bemban Besar after the storm

A small team head through the storm to survey this humungous submerged reef near the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. 

Photo by Richard Kuah

They make all kinds of special finds including Knobbly sea stars and many colourful marinelife commonly seen on our reefs. The corals and seagrasses seem alright. I had to skip this survey to attend another advocacy event. So much thanks to Richard for making sure the team was safe.

Long Island: NParks to study fish on reclaimed shores

As preparatory works for the Long Island start in end-2026, NParks announced a study of fish on reclaimed shores. Initiated in 2025, expected to span 3 years, official start date not revealed. 

HDB said “Given the mobility of fish and the availability of habitats outside of the work areas (of the Long Island preparatory works), the impact on fish is assessed to be temporary and localised.”

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum's senior collection manager of fishes Tan Heok Hui said there will not be enough time for the NParks study to document comprehensively the existing biodiversity at Bedok Jetty. He noted no proper baseline surveys currently exist for the East Coast area. And existing impact assessments often overlook less mobile, bottom-dwelling or burrowing organisms. Because the entire East Coast is already on reclaimed land, it is technically considered of lower ecological importance compared with pristine marine habitats. 

Four anglers in their 20s formed a fish interest group to document the species at fishing hot spot Bedok Jetty before works start. Student Lin Jiayuan, 24, and three of his friends founded the Ichthyological Society of Singapore on July 6. The group, which has grown to more than 80 members, aims to document the biodiversity that remains along the Republic’s rapidly developing coastlines.

Sentosa Tg Rimau: EIA on slope stabilisation works

Work will begin in 2027 across a 400m stretch of Sentosa Tanjong Rimau. This include "a few hundred XblocPlus blocks, each weighing about a tonne, to be placed at three sites". The EIA found that more than 12 per cent of seagrass meadows may be lost. Soft, sandy and seagrass habitats are likely to transform into artificial hard, rocky habitats at the locations of the XblocPlus.

Muhammad Nasry Abdul Nasir, executive director of Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity said: “If you’re protecting an existing seawall or a reclaimed shoreline with little ecological value, (adding XblocPlus) for habitat complexity is a no brainer. But Rimau is not a blank canvas; there’s a lot of life there. Are there alternatives we can consider that are less drastic in terms of reshaping the shore, that can still provide the coastal resilience we are looking for?”

“While stabilising the slopes is necessary to prevent progressive collapse (of the cliff), the approach should minimise impacts to Tanjong Rimau’s biodiversity,” said Lester Tan, chairman of Nature Society Singapore’s Marine Conservation Group. “I’m always in favour of not changing one habitat to another. There could be a loss of connectivity,”

Read the full EIA on the Sentosa website.

Send your feedback here https://form.gov.sg/6a20d00d14f841cbd5b20469

Related blog post: Sentosa Tg. Rimau: Interlocking 1-tonne blocks to be deployed

Terumbu Hantu in the face of Sudong reclamation

Despite being next to petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom and surrounded by heavy vessel parking, this little gem with rich reefs is one of our favourite sites.

Today we survey within sight of the ongoing massive reclamation on Pulau Sudong. We are relieved to see the corals are still doing well. The rest of the team make all the special finds, I will update later.

Responses to preparatory work for Long Island

The Preparatory works for Long Island will involve removal of seabed obstructions, construction of temporary sand bunds and sand infilling. Phase 1 will begin end-2026, while Phase 2 will take place after the end of the SEA Games 2029. East Coast shores are alive with sea turtles, fish and corals and seagrasses have settled naturally on the artificial lagoons and sea walls.

Ang Qing reports that scientists, nature groups and anglers have raised concerns about potential blind spots. Some stakeholders shared concerns about the speed of the planning process. They were surprised by the announcement, as authorities had previously stated that technical studies for the multi-decade project would only conclude around 2029.

Ang Qing says "the four-week public feedback window on the study that ends on July 28 will be a major test of process. Time will tell how much of a difference community feedback can actually make when a mega-project’s timeline appears to be set in stone."

Share your feedback here https://form.gov.sg/675fc8ff28a3ca9ebd83c21b

Media articles and press releases on the Preparatory works for Long Island including EIA

Long tape seagrasses at Sentosa Palawan

There is a patch of long Tape seagrass growing at Sentosa Palawan! A nice surprise to see on an artificial beach and 'islet' facing the busy port! Sentosa is indeed a precious refuge for seagrasses and rare mangrove trees.

Over the weekend, the survey team and I also checked out the Great Sentosa exhibition at Vivocity. Once completed, Greater Sentosa is projected to attract about double the current 17 million visitors a year. I do hope our marine life will be given a chance to be a part of this Greater Sentosa. So hopefully it won't come to a point where we can only see Sentosa's rare plants and animals in a glass jar. 

More of my thoughts on Greater Sentosa at the end of this post. Which I have submitted as my feedback to the Greater Sentosa masterplan. Submit your feedback too here https://form.gov.sg/6a44c40969c66ca0ff78bbc6

Your feedback sought for preparatory work for Long Island

Preparatory works will involve removal of seabed obstructions, construction of temporary sand bunds and sand infilling. Phase 1 will begin end-2026, while Phase 2 will take place after the end of the SEA Games 2029. 

An Environmental Impact Assessment indicates up to minor impact on some terrestrial and marine biodiversity. Some coral and seagrass beds found near the work site may experience short-term and localised impact from the sediment plumes. However, the majority of coral and seagrass in the vicinity, including Sisters’ Island Marine Park, are largely unaffected.

The area that is used for preparatory works is not reflective of the future land profile of ‘Long Island’. 

This project will span a few decades, agencies will continue to engage Singaporeans and stakeholders to shape the plans and design for ‘Long Island’ at various stages of the planning process in the years ahead. 

Share your feedback here https://form.gov.sg/675fc8ff28a3ca9ebd83c21b

Full EIA available on the HDB website here

Sentosa Tg. Rimau: Interlocking 1-tonne blocks to be deployed

"A few hundred" one-tonne concrete blocks (XblocPlus) will be deployed at Sentosa Tanjung Rimau's natural cliffs. The interlocking blocks will be placed “at the toe of the slope to mitigate wave erosion". PUB said the location was identified together with Sentosa Development Corporation which is planning to do slope stabilisation works there.

"The blocks’ high porosity will also provide safe havens for marine life while effectively dissipating wave energy." This project will mark local construction firm Woh Hup Engineering’s first foray into the coastal protection industry, with the goal of ensuring the product is cost-effective enough for nationwide use.

Sentosa Tg Rimau has among our last natural cliffs with natural rocky shores. A natural coastal forest cloaks the cliff. Hardy plants grow here. Sentosa's coastal forest has some of the last of Singapore's now rare coastal plants.

Among them is Nyireh laut which is Critically Endangered in Singapore and we probably have less than 10 trees on our shores. On our last survey in Jan 2026, the mother tree looks a little less leafy, but otherwise seems okay. Her oldest Daughter no. 1 next to her is still alright with fresh green leaves. The next younger Daughter no. 2 growing near the pill box is growing tall with fresh green leaves. Daughter no. 3 which I last saw as a sapling in Apr 2014 has grown really tall with fresh green leaves. Today, I managed a look at her trunk! And Nasry pointed out what could be Daughter no. 4 nearby!

Terumbu Raya in the face of Sudong reclamation

We return to Terumbu Raya East for the first time in 4 years! Although it lies just off the petrochemical plants on Pulau Bukom it is still very much alive. With sprinkles of corals and seagrasses.

The rest of the team saw sharks, sea turtles, special anemones and other marine life.

Lianhe Zaobao features Marina Bay mangroves

In response to Lianhe Zaobao, Dr. Karen, Senior Director of the National Biodiversity Centre of the National Parks Board, said that the authorities are aware of this mangrove forest and conducted an on-site inspection in March this year. The authorities will study the mangrove forest in conjunction with relevant agencies when assessing development plans for the area.

Muhd Nasry, Executive Director of the Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity, said, “While this mangrove forest is smaller compared to the vast mangroves of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, it’s truly amazing to see it." Nasri said that with the upcoming development of coastal protection facilities, it is crucial to arrange for engineers to conduct on-site inspections. "How to strike a balance between construction projects and maintaining biodiversity, and even fulfilling the function of seawall protection, are all issues that need to be discussed."

Google translate of the original article
滨海东填海地自然长出红树林 为长岛生态规划提供参考
by Huang Yinchuan Lianhe Zaobao June 1, 2026, 18:00

AI summary

• Mangroves have naturally grown on the reclaimed land in Binhai East, providing a reference for the ecological planning of Changdao Island.
• Mangroves have naturally grown on the reclaimed land east of the coast, including the critically endangered *Avicennia marina* and the rare *Avicennia galbana*.
• These mangroves have formed a complete ecosystem without human intervention, providing habitat for mud lobsters, hermit crabs, and other organisms.
• Environmentalists believe this phenomenon provides an ecological reference for the Long Island Project, demonstrating that artificial coastlines can become natural regeneration hotbeds.
• The mud lobster mounds confirm the mangroves' maturity, and experts are calling for engineering plans to consider both biodiversity and shoreline protection functions.
• The National Parks Board has inspected the area and will collaborate on assessing the feasibility of mangrove conservation in its development planning.