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August 25, 2026

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Marine community fears loss of biodiversity hotspot to proposed western island development

The government says it recognises the biodiversity value of the western islands and will conduct technical studies, including environmental assessments, before development plans proceed.

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SINGAPORE: Local marine conservation advocates and recreational divers have raised concerns over development plans for a cluster of islands west of Singapore, including one of the country’s most popular dive sites.

In response to the concerns, a Ministry of National Development (MND) spokesperson said the government “recognises the biodiversity value of the western Islands and its surrounding”, and it is “carefully studying the plans as there is a need to plan ahead and create options for the future”.

As part of the planning process, the ministry said it will conduct technical studies to inform the development plans, including the reclamation profile. These will include feasibility studies, site investigations and surveys, and engineering and environmental studies, to better understand development possibilities and their preliminary impact on areas such as biodiversity and hydrodynamics.

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

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at his National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23) that several islands, including Semakau, Bukom and Pulau Sudong, could be merged to support new industries and future power generation needs.

Pulau Hantu sits amid the three islands, and dive operators fear reclamation or access restrictions could harm both the marine environment and the local diving industry built around the site.

Mr Wong also announced that steps will be taken to improve access to Sentosa’s western coastline, which is home to rich marine life and unique geology, while preserving its natural character.

Advocates are also calling for biodiversity experts and community groups to be more closely involved in the planning process, so that ecological and environmental concerns are brought to the table.

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BIODIVERSITY VALUE OF ISLANDS

Stakeholders and observers highlighted the biodiversity value of the marine life and habitat at the islands slated for development.

Dr Lim Swee Cheng, a marine biologist and curator at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said the island cluster represents a “very substantial portion of Singapore’s remaining southern marine habitats”, known among researchers and naturalists for its rich coral reefs and associated marine life.

“Some of these areas have remained relatively undisturbed because of restricted access, which has allowed comparatively healthy reef communities to persist despite Singapore’s long history of coastal development,” he said.

Ms Jharyathri Thiagarajah, who leads outreach and education at the museum, said Singapore’s offshore islands are valuable as they support marine life and habitats “that are increasingly rare in our highly urbanised environment.”

Ms Thiagarajah has led visits for students and members of the public to the islands, including Pulau Hantu and Pulau Semakau, since 2015.

From a biodiversity conservation perspective, such a development could permanently erase or alter habitats, species and ecological relationships that researchers may not even fully understand yet, she said. “Once these natural environments are gone, they cannot simply be recreated elsewhere.”

Ms Kong Man Jing, co-founder of science and nature social media channel Just Keep Thinking, said reefs in the island cluster are the result of around 8,000 years of natural development, something that is “incredibly difficult to contemplate losing”.

“The Southern Islands also form an ecologically connected network, with reefs around islands such as Sudong, Pawai and Senang identified as important sources of coral larvae for other reefs,” said Ms Kong.

Corals seen in the waters off Pulau Hantu. (Photo: Cuddlefish Divers)

INVOLVEMENT IN FORMULATING PLANS

Community groups interviewed said they hoped to be involved in formulating plans to develop the island cluster.

Mr Stephen Beng, immediate past chairperson of the Friends of Marine Park group, called for stakeholders and domain experts to be included further upstream in the planning process.

“Our southern waters are not merely space to be allocated,” said Mr Beng, calling them strategic assets and a legacy responsibility.

CNA understands that Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan met with members of the group on Monday to discuss their concerns.

On the plans for Sentosa, Dr Lim said Tanjong Rimau – located at the island’s westernmost tip – remains one of its relatively less disturbed coastal habitats. It still supports notable intertidal and marine biodiversity, even as Sentosa is widely associated with mass tourism and heavy development, he said.

In a highly urbanised coastline like Singapore’s, sites like Tanjong Rimau help connect marine organisms across fragmented habitats, said Dr Lim.

He called for comprehensive assessments across all the affected areas before works proceed, including baseline biodiversity surveys, hydrodynamic modelling, impact assessments and long-term monitoring.

Ms Kong said she hopes that any plans being studied would carefully consider the ecological significance of all affected areas across the various islands.

“We have submitted questions to the relevant agencies on the reclamation footprint, timing of environmental studies, whether ecological findings could influence the design, and whether there will be opportunities for expert and public input,” added Ms Kong.

Over the years, the authorities have made efforts to preserve marine biodiversity as the offshore islands are gradually developed for the country’s future needs.

For example, from September 2014 to January 2015, over 700 coral colonies and other species such as giant clams were relocated from Pulau Semakau to the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, as part of a move to convert a lagoon into a new landfill cell to meet Singapore’s future waste disposal needs.

In July 2015, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and volunteers from various environmental interest groups also relocated 2,300 hard coral colonies from Sultan Shoal to St John’s and Sisters’ Islands, to protect them from the impact of the Tuas Terminal development.

CONCERNS OF LOCAL DIVING COMMUNITY

Local diving operators told CNA that the island cluster is one of the few places in Singapore where divers can experience thriving marine biodiversity in the wild without travelling overseas.

Mr Martin Benedict, owner of local diving firm Marlin Divers, pointed out that Pulau Hantu is the only site in Singapore safe for regular diving, as its location shields divers from strong currents, making it suitable for beginners.

Its proximity to the mainland also makes it convenient for a day trip, he said. Around 50 divers visit the popular site every weekend day, he added.

Ms Serene Pek, co-owner of Cuddlefish Divers, said Pulau Hantu is often regarded as “the heart of Singapore’s recreational diving scene”.

“Despite being located within one of the world’s busiest ports, the waters around Pulau Hantu support diverse marine life, such as seahorses, nudibranchs, octopuses, cuttlefish, reef fish, stingrays, sharks and so many more,” she said.

It is not the only dive site in Singapore, but by far the most popular, she added.

Ms Pek said her firm is concerned about the potential impact of the island cluster’s development on the local diving industry and Singapore’s marine ecosystem.

“We started our business with local operations since day one … It’s been our bread and butter,” she said.

Cuddlefish Divers has been operating for eight years. It organises local dive trips every weekend, with a total of four trips each accommodating up to 15 divers.

With full details and environmental assessments yet to be released, Ms Pek said reclamation activities could nonetheless affect water quality, underwater visibility, sedimentation patterns and marine habitats.

“If environmental conditions deteriorate or access becomes restricted, it may reduce the attractiveness and viability of local diving activities,” she said.

For now, her firm is awaiting further details about the reclamation plans and hopes to engage with the relevant stakeholders and agencies.

Mr Benedict said the development announced on Sunday would affect his company and he would lose “quite a lot of business”, especially since he operates only locally.

He may also consider pivoting to run dive trips overseas, though that would bring its own logistical headaches, he said.

“When it comes to marine biodiversity, it’s not simply that they will regrow somewhere else. There are things you can’t see on mainland Singapore,” he said.

Source: CNA/cy

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