Reefy seawalls at East Coast Park

We return to the very long seawall at East Coast Park which is encrusted with corals. Seagrasses have also settled in the lagoon behind the seawall.

Alas, we are unable to survey the larger area across the canal as "No Trespassing" signs have been set up there. But we saw living corals and seagrasses in the smaller area and even in the canal.

Seagrassy East Coast Park is alive

There are lush seagrasses growing at the mouth and even inside a canal at East Coast Park!

I saw five species of seagrasses! And a wide variety of animals. Singapore's marine life is astonishing in establishing on reclaimed land.

Reefy East Coast Park with seagrasses and mangroves too!

Corals, seagrasses and other marine life have settled on artificial shores at East Coast Park!

This morning, a small team checked out the corals that settled on the seawall that is only exposed at super low spring tide. We also explored the seagrass meadows here and saw mangroves had settled too!

East Coast Park: corals, seagrasses and otters!

This morning, a small team surveyed an East Coast Park shore that is only accessible at super low tide. We found lush seagrasses and corals!

We also encountered a large group of Smooth-coated otters! And a seahorse too!

Seagrasses taking over sandy artificial shores!

The artificial sandy shores of East Coast Park and nearby Tanah Merah are being colonised by lush seagrasses!

This morning we discovered possibly the largest patch of Noodle seagrass on the mainland, as well as many kinds of seagrasses. The sandy shores were also alive with rare snails.

Coral reefs at East Coast Park!

Thanks to Arjun Sai Krishnan who shared with me some intriguing photos of corals at East Coast Park some months ago. Also thanks to Kok Sheng who recce the area beforehand, a small team visited this morning.

We were astonished to see a lot of corals, as well as seagrasses and other marinelife on this artificial reclaimed land. The glorious sunrise was a bonus!

Sharing an imagined Singapore 'Great Barrier Reef'

I was kindly invited to speak about natural regeneration on artificial shores and my wacky idea of imagining a Singapore ‘Great Barrier Reef’!

It was also exciting to learn about the science of natural regeneration on our artificial shores from Dr Karenne Tun talk's "Build it right and they will come". I really learnt a lot about coastal restoration at the Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation: Aquatic Invasives and Coastal Restoration.

City in a Reef: my feedback on the Draft Master Plan 2013

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is already happening now. Unintentionally, with zero replanting.

A rich reef growing naturally at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Jun 2013

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.

Reefs on Singapore's artificial seawalls!

A reef has settled naturally on the artificial seawalls at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. A wide variety of corals and marine life can be found here.

A rich reef growing naturally at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Jun 2013

More amazingly, these corals survived the massive oil spill of May 2010 and global coral bleaching in the same year that hit this stretch of shore! Can we encourage similar natural regeneration on other stretches of artificial seawalls and structures?! These details are part of City in a Reef: my feedback on the Draft Master Plan 2013.

Seagrasses on Singapore's artificial shores!

Lush seagrasses have grown naturally on the artificial shores at Tanah Merah!

Lush seagrasses with Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
on the horizon. May 2013.

More amazingly, these seagrasses survived the massive oil spill of May 2010 that hit this stretch of shore! Lush seagrasses were also recently seen at artificial shores of East Coast Park, and have been seen in the recent past as well. Can we encourage similar natural regeneration on other stretches of artificial shores?! These details are part of City in a Reef: my feedback on the Draft Master Plan 2013.

Mangroves on Singapore's artificial seawalls!

Large mangrove trees have settled naturally on Pulau Hantu's artificial seawalls right next to massive petrochemical plants at Pulau Bukom.

Checking the mangroves on the Pulau Hantu seawall in Mar 2013

I also observed similar natural regeneration on artificial shores near the Marina Barrage in 2008. Can we encourage similar natural regeneration on other stretches of artificial seawalls?! These details are part of City in a Reef: my feedback on the Draft Master Plan 2013

East Coast Suprise: Reefy!

There are reefy areas on the artificial East Coast Park shores!

Hard structures are crowded with colourful animals that we associate with reefs.

East Coast Surprise: Lots of seagrasses!

Lush meadows of seagrasses suprised us at East Coast Park!

Where there is seagrass, there is usually a great variety of animals! Many Thorny sea cucumbers (Colochirus quadrangularis) and Pink warty sea cucumbers (Cercodemas anceps) studded the seagrass meadows.