First look at Terumbu Menalung next to Sudong reclamation

Terumbu Menalung is a tiny submerged reef flat that lies very close to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. Thanks to the team who surveyed this for the first time and shared all their observations.

Photo by Rachael Goh

They encounter a wide variety of corals and marine life, including the endangered Merten's carpet anemone. I was with another team that surveyed Terumbu Bemban at the same tide. What we saw in both locations suggests that there is good effort to minimise impact of the large reclamation works.

Checking Terumbu Bemban for impacts from the Sudong reclamation

We check up on one of our favourite sites, a submerged reef flat that is the closest to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong. What we saw suggests that there is good effort to minimise impact of the large reclamation works.

It was a relief to see healthy corals on Western Terumbu Bemban nearest to the reclamation site. There is denser growth of seagrasses here too. While the rich reefy patch on Eastern Terumbu Bemban seems to be okay. A separate team also makes our first survey of tiny Terumbu Menalung nearby. I will update later with all their observations.

Is Terumbu Bemban impacted by the Sudong reclamation?

The team surveys one of our favourite sites, a submerged reef flat that is the closest to the ongoing reclamation at Pulau Sudong.

So far, the shore is still alive! We didn't check the shore at peak mass coral bleaching last year. So it was a relief to see the coral situation seems as usual. Also a nice to surprise to see denser growths of seagrasses throughout the reef flat. The rest of team find Giant clams, encounter huge jellyfishes, special sea anemone and the usual colourful reef life.

Will Terumbu Bemban be affected by Pulau Sudong reclamation?

A small team survey one of our favourite sites, this submerged reef flat that is the closest to the Live Firing Area. It is likely to be affected by the reclamation at Pulau Sudong scheduled for end of this year.

We had to wait a while for the sun to rise and the tide to fall before checking out the western shore facing Pulau Sudong. We find a Giant clam, and check out the corals and seagrasses growing well here.

Terumbu Bemban hanging on

This submerged reef flat is the closest to the Live Firing Area, and one of our favourite sites.

There doesn't seem to be a recovery from the decline we noticed in the reefiest part on our last survey in Apr 2022. But there remains many corals here. The rest of the team spotted a Giant clam and other interesting marine life. While Kelvin flew the drone and got footage of a shark hunting in the shallows. 

Two-clam day at Terumbu Bemban

We arrive at first light on Terumbu Bemban, a submerged reef off Pulau Semakau.

While the small reefy patch on this shore seemed to have declined, we saw two live Giant clams and there were signs of good seagrass growth. The team also saw seahorse, shark and other interesting marine life. And our skipper saw six sea turtles.

Terumbu Bemban still reefy

A glorious sunrise as we head out to Terumbu Bemban, a submerged reef off Pulau Semakau. The last time we were here in  Jun 2020 it was to check for mass coral bleaching. 

We didn't see much bleaching last  year, and today, I saw mostly healthy corals. The team also found two large Fluted giant clams, lots of 'Nemos', a seahorse and other interesting marine life.

Terumbu Bemban with mass coral bleaching

Dr Jani Tanzil alerted us that mass coral bleaching may have started on our shores since the second week of June. So we are on the look out for this at Terumbu Bemban.

I surveyed a short stretch of reef edge facing Beting Bemban Besar which has some dense coral patches. Today, I estimate about 2% of the hard corals that I saw are outright bleaching, with an additional 20% showing stress (paler than usual or with bleaching portions) or with recently dead patches. But many corals were doing alright with no pale or bleaching portions. The situation wasn't as bad as what I saw during mass coral bleaching in 2010.

Terumbu Bemban: corals are well, seagrasses look good

A small team checked out this small but rich reef flat. Thanks to Su and Zhi Ting for their support of the trip!

I was relieved to see that most of the corals were doing well. And happy to see clumps of rather long Tape seagrass and sprinkles of Spoon seagrass on the reef flat. Kelvin found a Burrowing giant clam!

Terumbu Bemban still alive!

In a small corner of Terumbu Bemban there are some of the best reefs I've seen in Singapore.

Today, some large colonies seem to have died, but other kinds of corals are doing well. We found two giant clams and saw other interesting marine life. And I narrowly missed stepping on a stonefish!

Living reefs at Terumbu Bemban

Terumbu Bemban has among the best reefs in Singapore!

Our last survey here was in Apr 2016, before the peak of mass coral bleaching. Today, I did not see mass coral bleaching, although I sense about 20% of the hard corals have died and some individual corals are pale or have bleaching patches.

Coral overload at Terumbu Bemban

Terumbu Bemban has among the best reefs in Singapore! Even though it is close to where many large ships are anchored.

I checked out a new edge of this submerged reef. And Russel and Adriane saw lots of sharks (which are abundant near this reef).

Coral overdose at Terumbu Bemban

Terumbu Bemban is among our smaller submerged reefs but it has some really nice corals!

Today, I didn't do much aside from looking at corals here. Fortunately, not much signs of coral bleaching.

Checking Terumbu Bemban for coral bleaching

With trepidation, we head out to check for coral bleaching on a hot sunny day.

There is a rich reef edge at Terumbu Bemban and we were relieved to see that the corals there were still doing fine.

Triple Terumbus for Giant Clams

This morning, I joined Mei Lin and her team of Clam Hunters to visit three submerged reefs! Our first stop, the beautiful submerged reef of Terumbu Raya, which lies just across from Pulau Semakau.

We found Giant clams! And also encountered sharks! Saw a sea turtle and sea snake too.

Why do we need to kill the animals? and Day 6.5 of the Southern Expedition

I spotted one seahorse and Ivan spotted three! But we don't collect them as we know what they are: Tiger-tailed seahorses (Hippocampus comes).

Here's also a little more about animal collection during the Survey, why and  how it is done. And how this helps us better protect our richest shores.

Two Terumbus in one trip!

We land at first light on Beting Bemban Besar! The tide is a little high but we have a lot of ground to cover on this very large submerged reef.

We also hop over to nearby Terumbu Bemban as part of the recce for the Mega Marine Survey's  upcoming Southern Expedition in May.

Special giant clam at Terumbu Bemban

Kareen identified this clam as a Tridacna maxima! Which has not seen alive for nearly a decade, although it is recorded for Singapore.

Chay Hoon was the first to find these clams on Terumbu Bemban. I also had a closer look at the hard corals during our short trip.

Return to reefs of Terumbu Bemban

There are parts of this submerged reef which are teeming with living hard corals! We couldn't resist coming back even though we just visited in April.

I saw some marine life for the first time on this trip!

Coral overdose at Terumbu Bemban

A coral encrusted part of this submerged reef seems to be doing well! What a relief as there was lots of coral bleaching on Terumbu Bemban when we last visited in June 2010.

Other special sightings (by others in the team), possibly yet another Leathery sea anemone, Merten's anemone and more Fluted giant clams!