12 Nov (Thu): "It’s Not A ‘Clamity’! Navigating through Marine Conservation in Singapore"

A marine biologist working on Singapore shores, Dr Neo Mei Lin will share more about what inspires her. Best known for her work on Giant clams, Dr Neo will also highlight the important role of scientists in public engagement.

Dr Neo with a Giant clam on Pulau Jong
with the Singapore city skyline on the horizon.

Date: 12 Nov (Thu)

Time: 5pm, Singapore (GMT+8)

Register online here.

Hope for Sisters' Islands Marine Park being named a Mission Blue Hope Spot!

Singapore aims for its first marine Hope Spot with Sisters' Islands Marine Park. Photo: Straits Times Lim Yaohui.

The Sisters' Islands Marine Park might become the Republic's first "Hope Spot" under the international initiative, Mission Blue, which draws public attention to marine areas which may need more protection!

Participate in "My Defining Maritime Moment" Social Media Contest (1 Mar to 31 Aug)!

Love taking photos? And a great love for our seas? Then this contest is for you!

"My Defining Maritime Moment" is organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore! Participants stand a chance to win $200!

Also, a chance to be featured at the “My Defining Maritime Moment” Exhibition held at the Singapore Maritime Gallery @ Marina South Pier.

Visit Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s Facebook Page for more information.

24 Jun (Mon): Chasing Coral - Public Screening & Discussion Forum

Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an alarming rate. Chasing Coral, an award winning documentary, follows a group of divers, photographers and scientists on their thrilling ocean adventure to record the recent devastating effects of coral bleaching.

FREE public screening and discussion forum happening on 24 Jun (Monday) at the Function Room, Botany Centre (Singapore Botanic Gardens)! No registration is required.

IYOR 2018 End of Year Report - Singapore's collective efforts

The International Coral Reef Initiative just released the IYOR 2018 End of Year Report on the various activities held across the world! You can download the report here: https://www.iyor2018.org/news/iyor-end-year-report/

Taking this opportunity to thank all of our partners, supporters, friends, and volunteers for supporting Celebrating Singapore Shores! In the past year, our FaceBook page has reached out to almost 1500 likes and 1500 follows! Thank you so much for your support, and we hope to continue using this platform to Connect, Respect, and Protect our marine environments. You can also follow our blog page for events: https://celebratingsingaporeshores.blogspot.com/

Let's take a quick recap on Singapore's efforts!

Balloons - NOT worth celebrating!

Thanks to Rachel Mark and Cassandra Chai for highlighting the deadly impact of balloons on our marine life!

They share more about the harmful effects of balloons, some misconceptions and alternatives to balloons for your party and celebrations!

Celebrating Singapore's Shores on the road: September - December

In the months of September to December, Celebrating Singapore Shores was on the road once more to raise awareness for the secret shores of Singapore!

This FREE talk "Secret Shores of Singapore", accompanied by FREE panels and brochures that are kindly sponsored by the National Research Foundation, is offered as part of Celebrating Singapore Shores and International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2018. Yi Feng is one of the many outstanding youths who have stepped up as an IYOR intern. 

Yi Feng shares about his time as an intern with Celebrating Singapore Shores in the past few months leading to the end of the year:

FOLLOW US! - Instagram Our Seas, Our Legacy

In this series of 'FOLLOW US!' we want to highlight interesting Instagram pages about Singapore's marine biodiversity and seashores that are worthy of following!

FREE Talks and Tour on Ocean Plastic Pollution (7 Dec 2018, Friday at 7pm)

FREE Talks and Tour on Ocean Plastic Pollution!

7 December 2018, Friday

Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens

7.00-8.30pm

Walk-in registration! First-come, first-served for tour!

Talks:

Three eminent international scientists are here as part of the International Conference on Plastics in the Marine Environment, organised by NUS, SCELSE, Cefas, and NParks!

• Professor Richard Lampitt, National Oceanography Centre, UK
• Ms Rhiannon Moore, Ocean Wise, Canada
• Ms Ellie Jones, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, US

Tour:

A specially curated tour of the Beneath Tide, Running Forest art-science exhibition by Dr Wang Ruobing.

[Spotlight on IYOR Interns!] Our Seas, Our Legacy by Nathaniel Soon

When you think of Singapore, the word 'marine conservation', 'marine biodiversity', and 'marine biology' would not be part of your lexicon. Growing up in highly urbanised Singapore, it is hard to imagine that we have much to see around Singapore waters (plus it's kind of murky and all!).

Quietly working over the years, a group of unsung marine heroes have been raising awareness of this unique natural heritage of Singapore waters. And one filmmaker is determined to make their voices and actions heard.

As part of the celebrations for International Year of the Reef 2018 in Singapore, the community initiative Celebrating Singapore Shores hosted young interns to platform their voices and ideas. Meet Nathaniel Soon, a 21-year old filmmaker, diver, and college freshman, who founded 'Our Seas, Our Legacy'.

This is what Nathaniel has to say:

[Spotlight on IYOR Interns!] The Bottled-Up Truth: Singapore's Plastic Problem

Over the past year, there has been an overwhelming response from the global communities to tackle the problem of plastics. In Singapore, there has been an increase in the number of players both in the commercial markets and independents who have stepped up to campaign against the excessive use of plastics and organise clean-ups.

As part of the celebrations for International Year of the Reef 2018 in Singapore, the community initiative Celebrating Singapore Shores hosted young interns to platform their voices and ideas. One pair: Jia Min and Fangyi worked hard to produce the following short film to highlight Singapore's excessive use of plastics and where they end up around Singapore.

From the blog post at Celebrating Singapore Shores, the girls said:

This video was created to raise awareness on the issue of plastic pollution in Singapore, while featuring the marine wildlife that we have on our very shores.

We sincerely hope that this video will enlighten everyone to play their part in small ways to effect a big change together. Reducing the use of single-use plastics may inconvenience us just a little bit, but the impact that we can create through these small efforts could make a world of a difference from the environment, for the wildlife, and for future generations.

Well-said and well-done! :D

Further reading:

• The Plastic Backlash: What's behind our sudden rage - and will it make a difference?
• Plastic Oceans, Plastic Seafood
• Pesky plastics, microplastics, and now nanoplastics too!
• Consequences of plastic waste end up in YOU and ME...
• RWS stops providing single-use plastic straws at attractions, eateries
• Zero plastic bags or zero waste? In defence of Singapore's rejection of a plastic bag ban
• Commentary: Dear Singapore, a plastic future is not fantastic

Survey: What kind of coral reefs do you want to see in Singapore?

Here's your chance to share your thoughts on what you think we should be doing for coral reef and marine conservation in Singapore!

Background:
Singapore once had over 60 offshore islands and submerged patch refs around its island, and most of them were located south of the main island. Since the mid 1970s, major land reclamation was carried out on the mainland and the offshore southern islands. As a result, many of the islands (plus reefs) were reclaimed to increase Singapore's land area. Since 1986, most coral reefs in Singapore have lost up to 65% of their live coral cover. The reclamation works had also affected coral reef organisms by burial or reduced clarity of water.

The local marine scientists have been studying ways to protect and rehabilitate our coral reefs through coral nursery, artificial reefs, and growing baby corals. Moving forward, colleagues are now embarking on a new study to gather social perceptions from civil society and academics on their thoughts on future coral reef restoration work in Singapore!

1 Sep (Sat): Beneath the Waves - films, art, talks and more!

Come for a day of marine films including Chasing Coral, Remember Chek Jawa, Birth of a Marine Park!

A great opportunity to meet a broad range of marine folk: advocates, artists, scientists, agencies and social enterprises. And learn more about marine and sustainability issues in Singapore.

Professor Richard Thompson's talk on Marine Litter - Plastics aren't the enemy. It is how we choose to use plastics.

We had the pleasure of hosting Professor Richard Thompson OBE from the University of Plymouth to speak about marine litter! He has dedicated the last 25 years of his career examining the issues of marine plastics, and even coined the term "microplastics"!

Thank you to everyone who had attended the talk yesterday evening, and we hoped that you had learnt more about our interactions with plastics, and feel inspired to live more responsibly with them! In case you missed out on this talk, here are some key messages from his talk.

International Conference on Plastics in the Marine Environment (IC-PME 2018), Singapore

Save the Dates! 5-7 December 2018

Celebrating Singapore Shores is proud to be an Organising Partner for this upcoming exciting international conference that will touch on a hot topic for the year - Plastics in the Marine Environment.

25 Jul (Wed): Research talk by Professor Richard Thompson (Marine Litter) [UPDATE!]

In conjunction with the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2018), the British High Commission Singapore, National University of Singapore, and the National Parks Board jointly bring to you the following talk:

“Marine Litter: Are there solutions to this global environmental problem?” by Professor Richard Thompson OBE, University of Plymouth, UK.

Details of the talk:
Date: 25th July 2018 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Venue: University Town, Stephen Riady Centre, UT-AD2 (Level 1), NUS

How to get there: http://utown.nus.edu.sg/contact/getting-here/

The talk is FREE by registration is required here by 20 July 2018.

Please help circulate the announcement to any one interested. And we hope to see you there!

Best regards,
Organisers at BHC, NUS, NParks
Supported by Celebrating Singapore Shores

August: FREE Public Forum by SIBiol on "Coral Reef Conservation in Singapore"

The Singapore Institute of Biology and Science Centre Singapore jointly present

A Public Forum on "Coral Reef Conservation in Singapore"

Organised in conjunction with the International Year of the Reef and the Singapore Blue Plan 2018

Saturday, 25th August 2018

Maxwell Auditorium, Level 1

Science Centre Singapore

15 Science Centre Road, Singapore 609081

Programme:

• 0930 - 1000: Registration of members / participants (entrance of Science Centre Singapore)
• 1000 - 1045: Talk 1 "Coral Reef Conservation in Singapore - Shake, Rattle and Roll!" by Professor Chou Loke Ming, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore
• 1045 - 1130: Talk 2 "The 5Cs of our Seas" by Ms Sam Shu Qin, Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore
• 1145 - 1215: Tea Reception

The SIBiol-Science Centre Singapore Public Forum will also include free entrance to the Singapore Science Centre for the day! Don't miss out on this opportunity for an educational and fun-filled day!

More details at www.sibiol.org.sg

Register here!

13 June (Wed): FREE Public Talks on Seagrass!

FREE public talks organised by the team at the 13th International Seagrass Biology Workshop for this special series of public talks titled "Translating Seagrass Science Into Action".

Synopsis: What are seagrasses and why should YOU care about them? Find out how seagrass research has been translated into conservation actions from a distinguished panel of four plenary speakers from the World Seagrass Conference 2018! 

Speaker list:

• Dr Alana Grech, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University (Australia)

• Dr Peter Ralph, University of Technology Sydney (Australia)

• Dr Jillian Ooi, University of Malaya (Malaysia)

• Dr Maricela de la Torre Castro, Stockholm University (Sweden)

The event will consist of 20-minute talks and a 30-minute moderated Q&A with the audience. The talks will be held at the University Town, NUS on 13 June 2018 (Wednesday), 7-9pm.

How to get there? http://utown.nus.edu.sg/contact/getting-here/

Sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/Tv4XyPqBvC3qbTh32

FOLLOW US! - Instagram Our Singapore Reefs

In this series of 'FOLLOW US!' we want to highlight interesting Instagram pages about Singapore's marine biodiversity and seashores that are worthy of following!

Here, we have Our Singapore Reefs (@oursingaporereefs). Affectionately called OSR, a group of passionate advocates started this not-for-profit initiative that is fuelled by the love of the oceans and its inhabitants.

The Realities of Marine Trash

What is Marine Trash?

Plastics completely covering a part of the Caribbean sea 

Photo taken from Caroline Power Photography

Marine trash is anything that is man-made and doesn't belong to the ocean. It can be intentionally dumped or unintentionally leaked into water bodies which then flows into our oceans. Catastrophic events can carry out large amounts of it into the ocean. This waste includes glass, metal, paper, textile, wood, rubber and plastics. It ranges from as micrometres to metres in size.