Singapore

 

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, population 4.35 million (June 2005) is an island city-state and the smallest country in South-East Asia. Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself. It is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, south of the Malaysian state of Johor, and north of the Indonesian Riau Islands. It lies just 137 kilometres (85 miles) north of the Equator. Singapore has reclaimed land with earth obtained from its own hills, the seabed and neighbouring countries. As a result, Singapore's land area grew from 581.5 square kilometres (224.5 sq mi) in the 1960s to 697.2 square kilometres (269.1 sq mi) today, and may grow by another 100 square kilometres (38.6 sq mi) by 2030. About 23% of Singapore's land area consists of forest and nature reserves. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems The coastal and marine ecosystems of Singapore are very limited and modified by development and the port industry, which is one of the biggest income-earning businesses in the country. Port limits extend to almost all the entire territorial waters, and reclamation has transformed almost the entire southern and northeastern coasts of the main island considerably (Chou 1995). The steep beach front along the southeastern coast was once composed of sandy beaches and mudflats. Original rocky shores are found mainly on the southern offshore islands and small parts of the northern coast. Around 22 km2 of mangroves (or less than 1% of the original mangroves) remain in Singapore and none are protected (MacKinnon 1997), except for 87 ha at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. These are confined to isolated patches on the northern coast and northern offshore islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, and the eastern shore of Pulau Semakau in the south. The mangroves of Pulau Semakau were initially cleared to make way for Singapore’s offshore landfill. A massive replanting project was undertaken to maintain the ecosystem and mangroves were replanted on the western shore of the island. Seagrass beds can be found in various areas but most notably on the extensive reef flats of the Cyrene reefs, west of Pulau Semakau and off Pulau Ubin. The coral reefs are exceptionally diverse (197 species of scleractinian corals from 55 genera) despite the high turbidity in Singapore waters (Chou 1995). There are 31 mangrove and 11 seagrass species found in the country, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Halophila beccarii, Halophila minor, Halophila ovalis, Halophila spinulosa, Syringodium isoetifolium, Thalassia hemprichii (Spalding 2000). Marine turtles (Green, Hawksbill, Ridley’s), dugongs, dolphins (Indo-Pacific humpback) and four species of giant clams are also known to occur. There are currently no specific laws for the protection of mangrove forests and existing seagrass beds (ICRI 1997). At present, there are no MPAs in Singapore although three areas are protected to some extent. The first is the 87 ha Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve located along the northern coast of the mainland. It is a coastal mangrove habitat. The second is the Labrador Nature Reserve, a 16 ha area of natural rocky shore and coastal hill forest located on the southern coast of the mainland. Labrador was officially designated a Natural Reserve in 2002. The third area comprising the Sisters’ Islands is located south of the mainland and is considered a Marine Nature Area. Seagrasses of Singapore Seagrass meadows in Singapore play a vital role in supporting coastal marine communities and in maintaining diverse flora and fauna. They are an important component of coastal fisheries productivity and they play an important role in maintaining coastal water quality and clarity. The seagrasses of Singapore are also important food for marine green turtles and dugongs. The coastal and marine ecosystems of Singapore are however, limited and modified by development and the port industry (which is one of the biggest income-earning businesses in the country). Port limits extend to almost all the entire territorial waters, and reclamation has transformed almost the entire southern and northeastern coasts of the main island considerably (Chou and Goh 1998). The steep beach front along the southeastern coast was once composed of sandy beaches and mudflats and original rocky shores are found mainly on the southern offshore islands and small parts of the northern coast. There are currently no specific laws for the protection of existing seagrass meadows (ICRI 1997). There are 11 seagrass species found in the country, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Halophila beccarii, Halophila minor, Halophila ovalis, Halophila spinulosa, Syringodium isoetifolium and Thalassia hemprichii (Spalding 2000). Seagrasses were reported to be common between late 1950's and the early 1970's on reef-flats and the intertidal zones at Kranji and West Johore Strait (Chuang 1961; Johnson 1973). Loo et al. (1996) reported seagrass at Changi beach and Beting Bemban Besar (patch reef). Other studies reported the presence of seagrasses from locations south of the main island of Singapore which included Pulau Hantu, Pulau Semakau, Terumbu Raya (patch reef) and Hantu West (patch reef) and in the north, Pulau Tekong (Hsu and Chou, 1989a,b). H. decipien courtesy of Karenne Tun. Halophila decipiens found in Singapore: Singapore has added another species to its ranks! A patch of Halophila decipiens was found in the waters off Pulau Semakau at a depth of about 8m, by Eugene Goh, who was diving off the island late last year. A specimen was collected and passed on to the National Biodiversity Centre. It has since been verified and lodged with the Singapore Herbarium. This species, which has a pan-tropical distribution, is commonly found in deeper waters. It has since been sighted at other locations in the waters of Southern Singapore. It may actually have been in Singapore waters prior to its discovery but remained unknown because it could have been mixed up with the more ubiquitous H. ovalis. (Text: Siti Maryam Yaakub, Team Seagrass)

Chek Jawa (Pulau Ubin)

 

Principal watchers: Team Seagrass
Location: Shallow lagoon on north east shore of Pulau Ubin
Site code: CJ1, CJ2
Issues: marine debris/litter, coastal development, land reclamation, land runoff
Comments: Tanjong Chek Jawa is a cape and the name of its surrounding areas located on the south-eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, an island off the north-eastern coast of the main island of Singapore.

Pulau Ubin is a small island (10.19 km2) situated in the north east of mainland Singapore, to the west of Pulau Tekong. Granite quarrying supported a few thousand settlers on Pulau Ubin in the 1960s, but only about a hundred villagers live there today. It is also one of the very few off-shore islands in Singapore that is still inhabited.

The 1020-hectare island was once a cluster of five smaller ones separated by tidal rivers, but the building of bunds for prawn farming has since united these into a single island. Two other islets, Pulau Ketam (Crab Island) and Pulau Sekudu (Frog Island), lie to its south.

Pulau Ubin is one of the last areas in Singapore that has been preserved from urban development, concrete buildings and tarmac roads.

Pulau Ubin's wooden house villages and wooden jetties, relaxed inhabitants, rich and preserved wildlife, abandoned quarries and plantations, and untouched nature in general make it the last witness of the old "kampong" Singapore that existed before modern industrial times and large scale urban development.

Though recent government action has been limited to widening the paths for bicycles, building shelters for trekkers and other facilities for the growing number of visitors, it is already discreetly changing the face and nature of Pulau Ubin from untouched to planned, and paving the way for further developments.

The future of the island is in the hands of Singaporeans, but its witness as a former rural way of life will most probably disappear with the last "kampong" generation.

Chek Jawa (background)

For environmentalists and conservationists, Chek Jawa is a gem of marine wildlife. Located at the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa is a collection of six distinct habitats - coastal forest, mangroves, sand bars, seagrass lagoon, rocky shore & coral rubble.

Slated for land reclamation in 1992, the wonderful secrets of Chek Jawa were unveiled only in December 2000. As public attention was drawn to this site, thousands of Singaporeans flocked to visit this wetland treasure. At the same time, appeals from nature lovers and the general public led to a review of its reclamations plans. After carefully considering all public submissions and extensive consultations with scientific experts and relevant government agencies, it was announced in 2001 that reclamation works would be deferred as long as Pulau Ubin is not required for development.

Chek Jawa is teeming with a wide array of marine wildlife – starfish, sea horses, octopuses, carpet and peacock anemones, sponges and an assortment of crustaceans reside in the various marine habitats.

Chek Jawa has a total of 8 of Singapore's 11 recorded seagrass species. These are Halophila beccarii, Halophila spinulosa, Cymodocea rotundata, Halophila ovalis, Halophila minor, Halodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii and isolated clumps of Enhalus acoroides.

 

Cyrene Reef

Principal watchers: Team Seagrass
Location: Patch reefs within harbour, south of mainland Singapore
Site code: CR1, CR2
Issues: marine debris/litter, coastal development, land reclamation, land runoff

Comments: Cyrene is comprised of 3 patch reefs- Terumbu Pandan, Pandan Beacon and South Cyrene Beacon,and is one of the largest patch reef systems in Singapore. Cyrene Reef is a key maritime crossroad where east-west traffic routes cross north-south routes. Approximately five hundred ships transit the waters around the reef every day. The reef is also next to massive industrial sites like Jurong Island and Pulau Bukom, and opposite Singapore's container terminals. With abundant seagrass meadows and other marine life, Cyrene is a natural wonder. The reef top meadow is a mixture of Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea serrulata, Cymodocea rotundata, Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii and Syringodium isoetifolium.

Labrador

Principal watchers: Raffle's Girls School, Team Seagrass and NParks
Location: rocky reef, southern part of the main island of Singapore
Site code: To be advised
Issues: marine debris/litter, coastal development, land reclamation, land runoff

Comments:  Labrador Nature Reserve, also known as Labrador Park. It contains the only rocky sea-cliff on the mainland that is accessible to the public for recreation, education and scientific research. Since 2002, 10 hectares of coastal secondary vegetation and its rocky shore have been gazetted as a Nature Reserve.

Labrador Nature Reserve has a rich variety of flora and fauna. More than 50 species of birds and more than 11 species of butterfly have been recorded. In addition, the rocky shore contains a multitude of corals and crabs, seagrasses (Halophila Ovalis, Thalassia Hemprichii, and Enhalus Acoroides),sandworms and horseshoe crabs. The Common Hairy Crab (Pilumnus vespertilio) is often spotted in the area

Pulau Semakau

Principal watchers: Team Seagrass
Location: Fringing reef platform on western shore of island
Site code: PS1, PS2, PS3
Issues: marine debris/litter
Comments: Pulau Semakau is located to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. Pulau Semakau is Singapore's first offshore landfill. Semakau Landfill is filled mainly with inert ash produced by Singapore's four incineration plants, which incinerate the country's waste, shipped there in a covered barge (to prevent the ash from get blown into the air) every night.

Semakau Landfill was formed by the amalgamation of Pulau Sakeng with the eastern half of Pulau Semakau. The western half of Pulau Semakau was left natural, unaffected by the landfill construction, and this is where the seagrass monitoring sites are located.

Vast tracts of Enhalus acoroides fringe the island, stretching for kilometres. Pulau Semakau is one of the few places in Singapore where Syringodium isoetifolium occurs in abundance.

 

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Correct citation: McKenzie, LJ., Yoshida, RL., Mellors, JE & Coles, RG. (2006 - 2008). Seagrass-Watch. www.seagrasswatch.org. 228pp. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Queensland Government. Website designed by McKenzie, LJ., Yoshida, RL.