Conservationists fear loss of marine biodiversity under western island development plan

Marine conservation advocates and divers have voiced concerns over government plans to merge several western islands, including popular dive site Pulau Hantu. The Ministry of National Development says it recognises the biodiversity value and will conduct technical and environmental studies before pr

SINGAPORE: Marine conservation advocates and recreational divers have raised concerns over government plans to merge a cluster of western islands, including Pulau Hantu, one of Singapore's most popular dive sites. At his National Day Rally on 23 Aug, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced 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.

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 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, including feasibility studies, site investigations and surveys, and engineering and environmental studies, to 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.

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 for its rich coral reefs. Ms Jharyathri Thiagarajah, who leads outreach and education at the museum, said Singapore's offshore islands support marine life and habitats “that are increasingly rare in our highly urbanised environment”. From a biodiversity conservation perspective, such a development could permanently erase or alter habitats and ecological relationships that researchers may not fully understand yet, she said.

Ms Kong Man Jing, co-founder of science and nature social media channel Just Keep Thinking, said reefs in the cluster are the result of around 8,000 years of natural development. “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,” she said.

Local diving operators told CNA that the island cluster is one of the few places in Singapore where divers can experience thriving marine biodiversity 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. Around 50 divers visit the popular site every weekend day, he said. Ms Serene Pek, co-owner of Cuddlefish Divers, said Pulau Hantu is often regarded as “the heart of Singapore's recreational diving scene”.

Community groups called for stakeholders and domain experts to be included further upstream in the planning process. Mr Stephen Beng, immediate past chairperson of the Friends of Marine Park group, said: “Our southern waters are not merely space to be allocated.” CNA understands that Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan met with members of the group on Monday to discuss their concerns. Ms Kong said she hopes any plans being studied would carefully consider the ecological significance of all affected areas, and that her group has submitted questions to relevant agencies on the reclamation footprint, timing of environmental studies, and opportunities for expert and public input.