Of low tides and high appetites

Straits Times 27 Oct 12;

NEWS of the launch of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey this week had so struck Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin - known for his interest in heritage issues - that he was moved to make a long posting on his Facebook page.

Inspired by reports of the largest marine life audit to be done and the seagrass, sponges and starfish that can be found in local waters, Mr Tan waxed lyrical over Singapore's marine life and posted photos of his field trip with a survey expedition.

He also got quite serious, reminding readers that Singapore will not be able to conserve all areas with biodiversity as some of them will be needed for development.

In effect, he was addressing a tough question that Singaporeans have been grappling with - how much heritage to preserve or sacrifice in the name of development.

But Mr Tan posed perhaps the most quintessentially Singaporean of all questions when contemplating a crab that had been found.

"A fine specimen," he commented. "I wonder if it is edible..."

PHUA MEI PIN

Related links
The Wonders of our Waters by Minister Tan Chuan-Jin on facebook