Government will do studies on rich marine biodiversity before western island reclamation

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had announced that an island for industry, energy and defence needs would be reclaimed in coming decades by combining several southern islands. (ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

Source: The Straits Times

Recognising the biodiversity value of the western islands and its surrounding waters, the authorities are carefully studying plans for future reclamation, and will be conducting technical studies as well as engaging stakeholders.

This comes as scientists and nature groups have 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.

A spokesman for the 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 in the wake of the announcement of the planned reclamation at the 2026 National Day Rally. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had announced that an island for industry, energy and defence needs would be reclaimed in coming decades by combining several southern islands.

The intertidal habitats for various islands and surrounding reefs which could fall within the potential reclamation area cover about 592.8ha, according to data from the National Parks Board’s Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey. This is larger than the resort island of Sentosa, and makes up more than half the intertidal areas of the Southern Islands.

Huang Danwei, director of the National Institute for Marine and Ocean Sciences, pointed out that reefs in Pulau Hantu and Pulau Semakau date back about 8,000 years.

“The area highlighted for potential reclamation is a very large one, containing many sensitive marine habitats and ecosystems that have high value for climate mitigation, ecological connectivity, science and potential medicines,” he said, warning that Singapore will lose many of these functions if the entire area undergoes land reclamation.

The mega-project could impact some of the most significant and valuable marine habitats in the Southern Islands, where nearly all of Singapore’s remaining natural coral reefs are found, the researchers said.

Acknowledging the strategic need backing the reclamation, scientists and nature groups called for the protection of as many of these habitats and their species as possible, given their immense ecological value.

Huang noted that the coral reefs of Pulau Hantu, Pulau Semakau and others in the area have shown how these natural habitats can persist even in the face of human activity, having recovered following global-scale coral bleaching events in 1998, 2010, 2016 and 2024.

“There is no mitigation for reefs lost by direct burial for land reclamation,” he said.

“Corals that can be transplanted are a few months or even years old, but they will not come close to restoring the ecosystem functions and services of coral reefs built over eight millennia.”

Chou Loke Ming, emeritus professor at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Biological Sciences, believes that mature marine habitats like reefs, seagrass and mangroves qualify as natural heritage sites. These have consistently served the ecosystem in valuable ways, such as by acting as nurseries supporting fish populations and absorbing planet-warming carbon dioxide.

The veteran marine scientist called for a new mindset on reclamation, where Singapore works towards building with nature instead of at the expense of it.

For instance, the reclamation boundary could be made flexible to avoid burying most of these habitats, he suggested.

Marine scientists and other stakeholders had proposed in the 2018 Singapore Blue Plan that Pulau Semakau, Pulau Hantu and Pulau Jong, together with other nearby reefs, be designated as a marine reserve. The proposal was not taken up.

Marine biologist Zeehan Jaafar, lead editor of the plan, said the connected reef-mangrove-seagrass coastal systems at Pulau Semakau are no longer observed anywhere else in Singapore.

Coral reefs have persisted on and near the landfill island despite development, with research done to understand why and how they continue to exist.

She noted that the affected areas rank among the most studied marine sites globally, and said their loss will take away long-term insights into coastal system processes.

“These areas are important to further understand our marine biodiversity and coastal ecological processes, especially as the biodiversity has been resilient in the face of increasing marine urbanisation,” she said.

Jani Tanzil, facility director for St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, noted that these spaces are valuable, as Singapore’s marine ecosystems sit at the confluence of waters like the South China Sea and Java Sea, making them a nature corridor that helps connect biodiversity and fisheries in the region.

Tanzil and marine conservationist Ria Tan highlighted the role that the affected area plays as a “mother site” that provides genetic material to sustain nearby ecosystems beyond its boundaries.

Said Tanzil: “We must still consider all options. Studies and solutions must be comprehensive, even if it means challenging how development is done.”

Tridacna crocea, commonly known as the burrowing giant clam or boring giant clam, among other corals seen during an intertidal survey led by marine conservationist Ria Tan at Pulau Hantu on July 31. (ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

Neo Mei Lin, a senior research fellow at St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, noted that 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the wild populations of giant clams that she studies exist in the potentially affected areas.

“The astronomical loss of marine habitats and its biodiversity is expected to be more devastating than the past island reclamation projects,” she said.

Nature groups similarly stressed the need for the careful development of these spaces, which are key educational and recreational sites.

The chairman of Nature Society Singapore’s marine conservation group, Lester Tan, said that the islands function as vital outdoor classrooms and living laboratories.

“Losing these accessible areas means losing the exact spaces where we cultivate the next generation of conservationists and build the genuine public appreciation necessary to sustain our national conservation goals,” he said.

Tan called for detailed environmental studies to guide this development, as well as for the Government to adopt a strict marine spatial zoning strategy that would identify and preserve the most resilient core reefs.

Likewise, a spokesman for the Ichthyological Society of Singapore said the society founded by youth hopes the area will be rigorously surveyed to catalogue the rich biodiversity slated for development.

He said: “Transparency is a must to ensure that the youth feel like they have a stake in their future.”

The MND spokesperson 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.”