Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid Channel NewsAsia 20 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE: More than 700 colonies of corals have been successfully relocated from the lagoon at Semakau Landfill to the Sisters' Islands Marine Park.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited the islands on Tuesday (Jan 20), and he handed over the last corals to be transplanted at the site, marking the completion of the coral relocation project.
The project began last September, following plans to close a gap at the southern tip of the Semakau Landfill lagoon to convert it into a new landfill cell.
The gap closure is part of Semakau Landfill's Phase II development works to help meet the waste disposal needs of Singapore up to 2035 and beyond.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) says the over-700 coral colonies amount to approximately 60 square metres of live coral cover. They include rare ones like Polyphyllia, Heliofungia and Neptune's Cup Sponge. The sponge was initially thought to be extinct since 1908 and is the second to be found in Singapore's waters. The first was discovered in 2011.
"This project is an excellent example of how close collaboration between agencies can yield benefits for the wider public and Singapore as a whole," said Dr Balakrishnan. "NEA will now be able to meet the nation's waste disposal needs while balancing the conservation of our natural habitats. Most important of all, the needs of our future are taken care of without compromising the environment that our future generation will inherit."
Ms Ria Tan, author of www.wildsingapore.com added, "The Semakau Landfill is a great example of how Singapore is ahead of the curve in dealing with resource constraints. I am proud that with the Semakau Landfill, Singapore can show that it is possible to develop sustainably despite limited land, without destroying our marine heritage as much care and effort have been made to salvage the marine life that flourished there."
- CNA/ek
More than 700 coral colonies moved from Semakau Landfill
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 20 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE — More than 700 coral colonies and other species such as Giant Clams have been successfully relocated from the lagoon at Semakau Landfill to the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, as part of a move to convert the lagoon into a new landfill cell.
The coral relocation project — which took four months to complete and involved an estimated 60sqm of live coral cover — began in September last year. A gap at the southern tip of the lagoon at Semakau, where the corals were growing naturally, will be closed next to make room for a new landfill cell.
With Phase 1 expected to reach capacity by next year, this move is part of Phase 2 development work to help meet Singapore’s future waste disposal needs up to 2035 or beyond.
“There’s always going to be pressure on Singapore to conserve land, to use land, sometimes to reclaim land; that’s inevitable. But the other point is that ... it is possible if we make the effort and if we plan to conserve as much of our marine and, in fact, our terrestrial biodiversity as possible,” said Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan today (Jan 20) during a visit to the Sisters’ Island Marine Park for the coral transplantation.
“So all future developments will have to strike a right balance between using land in the most efficient, intensive way possible and preserving as much of our natural heritage as possible.”
An independent survey commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in March last year had recommended that 27 genera of corals be earmarked for transplantation, including several rare ones such as Polyphyllia and Heliofungia.
The agency subsequently called a tender for the coral relocation project.
During a routine dive to harvest the corals, marine biologists engaged by the NEA discovered the Neptune’s Cup Sponge, which was thought to be extinct since 1908.
First discovered in 2011, the sponge is the second to be found in Singapore waters. With the help of marine biologists from NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre, it was transplanted in waters near St John’s Island, next to the marine park at Sisters’ Islands.
Surveys will be carried out for nine months to monitor the health of the corals that have been relocated.
Semakau Landfill coral colonies' 'house-moving' a success
Audrey Tan My Paper AsiaOne 21 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE - More than 700 coral colonies have been successfully relocated from a lagoon in Singapore's offshore landfill to the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, in a move to expand the landfill and conserve the corals.
To mark the completion of the project, which began in September last year, Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, handed over the last corals from Semakau Landfill to a diver for transplantation last evening.
The relocation project was carried out so that the second phase of development works could start in the southern lagoon of the landfill.
The corals there had grown naturally, but they had to be moved so Singapore could meet its waste disposal needs up to 2035 or beyond.
The site adjacent to the lagoon, where waste is now placed, is expected to be filled by next year.
To protect the marine habitats, the National Environment Agency (NEA) had commissioned a coral reef survey of the area in March last year. This was led by the National University of Singapore marine biologist Chou Loke Ming.
Results had shown that 27 different types of coral, some rare, found in the zone below the low-tide mark, be earmarked for transplantation.
During one routine dive to harvest the coral in September last year, for instance, marine biologists discovered a coral species known as the Neptune's Cup Sponge in the landfill lagoon.
Thought to be extinct since 1908, it is the second specimen to be found in Singapore's waters, after the first rediscovery in 2011.
Corals found in the shallower intertidal zone of the lagoon were also harvested and transplanted by the National Parks Board to the Marine Park.
NEA added that post-coral transplantation monitoring surveys at the marine park will also be carried out to monitor the survival and health of the transplanted corals.
The surveys, which will be carried out over nine months, will also monitor the water quality and sediment conditions at the recipient sites.
Dr Balakrishnan said yesterday: "This project is an excellent example of how close collaboration between agencies can yield benefits for the wider public and Singapore as a whole. NEA will now be able to meet the nation's waste disposal needs while balancing the conservation of our natural habitats. Most important of all, the needs of our future are taken care of without compromising the environment that our future generation will inherit."
Corals in Semakau sucessfully relocated to Sisters' Islands Marine Park
AsiaOne 20 Jan 15;
SINGAPORE: Over 700 coral colonies found in Semakau landfill's lagoon have been sucessfully relocated to the Sisters' Islands Marine Park, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) today.
The relocation project began in Sept last year, ahead of the closure of the existing gap at the southern tip of the lagoon to convert it into a new landfill cell.
The gap closure is part of Semakau Landfill's development works to help meet waste disposal needs of Singapore up to 2035 and beyond, said NEA.
Transplantation took about four months to complete, during which divers discovered the coral specimen Cliona patera, or more commonly known as Neptune's Cup Songe, in the lagoon. The sponge was thought to be extinct since 1908 and is the second to be found in Singapore's waters.
Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan visited the Sisters' Islands Marine Parks today to inspect the coral transplantation works.
He also handed over the last corals from Semakau Landfill's coral cover to the diver for transplantation, to mark the completion of the coral re-location.
In a bid to safeguard the coral reef community within the lagoon, NEA had called a tender to relocate the corals in March last year.
It was then recommended from a survey that 27 genera of corals found in the sub-tidal zone be earmarked for transplantation.
NEA also enlisted the help of National Parks (NParks) to harvest corals found in the inter-tidal zone of the lagoon to the coral nursery at the Marine Park.
Besides coral relocation, post-coral transplantation monitoring surveys at the recipient sites will also be carried out to monitor the survival and health of the transplanted corals, said NEA.
The surveys, which will be carried out over a nine-month period, will also monitor the water quality and sediment conditions at the recipient sites.
NEA Successfully Completes Relocation of Corals Found In Semakau Landfill's Lagoon
Project tapped on marine biodiversity expertise of NPark's National Biodiversity Centre
NEA Press Release 21 Jan 15;
Singapore, 20 January 2015 – The National Environment Agency (NEA) has completed the relocation of over 700 coral colonies, amounting to approximately 60 square metres of live coral cover, from Semakau Landfill’s lagoon to the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. The relocation project began in September last year, ahead of the closure of the existing gap at the southern tip of the lagoon to convert it into a new landfill cell. The gap closure is part of Semakau Landfill’s Phase II development works to help meet the waste disposal needs of Singapore up to 2035 or beyond.
2 Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, visited the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park today to inspect the coral transplantation works. He also handed over the last corals from Semakau Landfill’s coral cover to the diver for transplantation, to mark the completion of the coral re-location.
3 The marine habitats had developed naturally within the remaining patch reefs in the Phase II lagoon. To safeguard the coral reef community within the lagoon, NEA called a tender for the re-location of corals to Sisters’ Islands following an independent coral reef survey of the Phase II lagoon commissioned by NEA in March last year. The findings from the survey, helmed by renowned marine biologist, Professor Chou Loke Ming, were shared with the National Parks Board (NParks), Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and nature groups. It was then recommended that 27 genera of corals found in the sub-tidal zone be earmarked for transplantation, including several rare genera like Polyphyllia and Heliofungia.
4 The transplantation project took about four months to complete, with the first month dedicated to coral harvesting and the next three for coral attachment at a recipient site at Sisters’ Islands. During a routine dive to harvest corals in September 2014, marine biologists engagedby NEA discovered an individual specimen of Cliona patera, or more commonly known as Neptune’s Cup Sponge, in the lagoon. The sponge, thought to be extinct since 1908, is the second to be found in Singapore’s waters, with the first discovered in 2011. With the assistance of marine biologists from NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre, the Neptune’s Cup Sponge was harvested from the lagoon in October 2014 and transplanted in the waters near St John’s Island, adjacent to the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, as part of the NParks’ marine conservation efforts. (See Annex A for more details).
5 In addition to the relocation of corals from the sub-tidal area, defined as a zone lying below the low-tide mark, NEA also enlisted the help of NParks to harvest corals found in the inter-tidal zone of the lagoon to the coral nursery at the Marine Park. This was done over the course of a month, with NParks transplanting different species of marine life and corals from more than four square metres of the intertidal zone to the Marine Park, which serves as a refuge for such native species.
6 “This project is an excellent example of how close collaboration between agencies can yield benefits for the wider public and Singapore as a whole. NEA will now be able to meet the nation’s waste disposal needs while balancing the conservation of our natural habitats. Most important of all, the needs of our future are taken care of without compromising the environment that our future generation will inherit,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
7 “The approach on conservation in the development of the Semakau Landfill is interesting and demonstrates how adequate planning can help to prevent unnecessary damage to the natural environment. As the gap of Semakau Landfill’s Phase II Lagoon was left open as part of the landfill’s design, it retained and provided a habitat for corals and marine life within the lagoon to continue to thrive. This approach resulted in not just survival of species but more importantly, a source of species that are now rarer at most of our reefs,” said Professor Chou of Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore.
8 Ria Tan, author of www.wildsingapore.com added, "The Semakau Landfill is a great example of how Singapore is ahead of the curve in dealing with resource constraints. I am proud that with the Semakau Landfill, Singapore can show that it is possible to develop sustainably despite limited land, without destroying our marine heritage as much care and effort have been made to salvage the marine life that flourished there."
9 Besides coral relocation, post-coral transplantation monitoring surveys at the recipient sites will also be carried out to monitor the survival and health of the transplanted corals. The surveys, which will be carried out over a 9-month period, will also monitor the water quality and sediment conditions at the recipient sites.
- End -
For more information, please contact
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
Annex A
FACTSHEET ON TRANSPLANTATION OF CORALS IN SEMAKAU LANDFILL'S LAGOON TO SISTERS' ISLANDS
Phase II Development of Semakau Landfill
1 Semakau Landfill started operations on 1 April 1999 and is used for landfilling of incinerated ash and non-incinerable waste. It was created by enclosing 350 hectares of sea space between Pulau Sakeng and Pulau Semakau with a 7-kilometre perimeter bund.
2 The development was planned to be implemented in two phases. For Phase I, the landfill cells constructed are projected to be filled by 2016. The Agency has since embarked on the development of the 157 ha of sea space in Phase II into a single landfill cell to meet the waste disposal needs of Singapore from 2016 onwards.
3 To develop the single landfill cell in Phase II, the existing gap at the southern tip of the landfill will be closed. The construction work to close the gap has commenced in February 2014 and is targeted to end in April 2015. Apart from the civil and structural work to close the gap, the construction and installation work for a Wastewater Treatment Plant and a Floating Platform has also taken place from January 2014. Phase II development works are expected to be completed in April 2015.
Photo 1: An aerial view of Semakau Landfill (taken in 2011).
Conservation of Hard Corals Harvested from Phase II Lagoon
4 Due to the presence of fresh seawater in the Semakau Landfill lagoon, marine habitats developed in the lagoon. In March 2014, NEA commissioned an independent coral reef survey of the lagoon, helmed by marine biologist, Professor Chou Loke Ming. It was recommended that 27 genera of corals be earmarked for transplantation to minimise the impact of landfilling operations on the coral reef community. One of these 27 genera is Polyphyllia, which is ranked 8th rarest among the 56 hard coral genera found in Singapore’s reefs.
5 A tender was called in July 2014 for the relocation of corals in the lagoon and it was awarded to DHI Water & Environment (S) Pte Ltd. The harvesting of corals was completed in September 2014 with the transplantation at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park commencing immediately after.
6 Upon the completion of coral transplantation, DHI will need to conduct post-coral transplantation monitoring surveys at the recipient sites to monitor the survival and health of the transplanted corals. The surveys, which will be carried out over a nine-month period, will also monitor the water quality and sediment conditions at the recipient sites.
7 A total of 42 genera of hard corals, with colony count of 761 amounting to approximately 60 square metres of live coral cover, were harvested from the lagoon and fully transplanted at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park. Two rare and threatened reef associated species were also relocated from the lagoon – Neptune’s Cup Sponge (Cliona patera) and Fluted Giant Clam (Tridacna squamosa).
Photo 2: Polyphyllia Talpina, harvested on 16 September 2014.
Photo 3: Lobophyllia, harvested on 12 September 2014.
Photo 4: Psammocora, harvested on 12 September 2014.
Discovery of Cliona Patera (Neptune’s Cup Sponge)
8 During a routine dive to harvest corals on 12 September 2014, marine biologists from DHI discovered an individual specimen of Cliona patera (Neptune’s Cup Sponge) in the Lagoon. The recorded individual from the lagoon measures about 450mm in height and has a diameter of about 150mm at its widest point.
9 The first record of the iconic Neptune Cup’s Sponge within Singapore waters was published in 1908 and since then, it was widely regarded as extinct. The second record of the sponge within Singapore waters was in 2011, where it was discovered near St John’s Island.
10 The Neptune’s Cup Sponge was harvested from Phase II lagoon on 7 October 2014 and transplanted in the waters of the Marine Park. Marine biologists from NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre also assisted in the harvesting and transplantation.
Photo 5: Neptune’s Cup Sponge (Cliona patera), discovered in Phase II Lagoon on 12 September 2014.
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