Share your sightings of dolphins, dugongs and more!

Your sightings needed to understand and protect our large marine animals. Share them on MegMaLS (Mega Marine Life in Singapore).

Please share live sighting, stranding, or carcass observations of any large marine animals. Includes dolphins, dugongs, large fishes, rays, sharks, turtles, whales, and wedgefishes. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete the report. Your valuable observation will help scientists learn more about these animals and identify ways to protect them.

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.

Singapore got whale shark??

A 3-meter long juvenile whale shark was spotted off Singapore Strait! Yes, Singapore got whale shark! This sighting is only the second time since 1964 - that's 56 years ago! The original sighting was posted by user on Reddit (by the name of Freakzone2212), whose father shared this photo of the shark while on a fishing trip. The exact location of the shark was not revealed.

The iconic whale shark is easily distinguishable based on its characteristic colour, markings and shape of species. Credit: Freakzone2212/Reddit.

This wonderful sighting was later confirmed by Dr Zeehan Jaafar, who studies aquatic fish in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore. Based on its diagnostic features such as the grey body with white spots and unique body shape, it was identifiable as a whale shark. Dr Jaafar will formalise the sighting by submitting this record to the Singapore Biodiversity Records, a publication managed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum.

1 Aug (Sat): 2pm "All about horseshoe crabs in Singapore"

For kids, parents welcomed to join in! Lots of interactive activities throughout the session.

Learn about horseshoe crabs in Singapore! These enigmatic and curiously shaped critters have been around way before the dinosaurs roamed Earth, and have been nearly unchanged over 445 million years!

This engaging sharing about these almost “living fossils” is by Lester Tan, the lead of the horseshoe crab team in the Nature Society (Singapore). And brought to you by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM).

Register here.

NParks Heron Watch (25 Jul - 2 Aug)

Our beautiful wild herons! Learn more about them and make a difference by helping in this survey. Suitable for families. Training is provided. A great way to visit some of our amazing shores and wetlands.

Herons at Terumbu Pempang Tengah,
off Jurong Island and major shipping lanes,
waiting for the tide to fall so they can begin hunting.

Registration closes 15 July.

Launch of "The Young Marine Biologist" badge with Science Centre Singapore

The "I Am A Young Marine Biologist" badge has just been launched on 12 November 2019 at the Science Centre Singapore! Check out the lovely pin logo that features a clownfish with a sea anemone.

The Young Scientist Badge Scheme has been around for a long time, with the objectives of stimulating interest in science activities among the young primary school students. This enables the students to carry out self-directed activities in various disciplines of science, and hope that students develop initiatives and creativity.

What a beautiful badge! Photo by Jani Tanzil.

As part of the Singapore Blue Plan 2018's roadmap of initiatives, the blue community at large, led by several marine scientists were the brains behind this new endeavour! We are so lucky to have Dr Toh Tai Chong, a coral reef biologist to share the development of the card activities and badge design.

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!

Launch of Private Lives Exposé of Singapore's Coral Reefs!

The final book of the Private Lives Series has been launched! 

An Exposé of Singapore's Coral Reefs was first conceptualised 6 six ago, with Professor Chou Loke Ming at helm. Together with his team of young marine biologists (Dr. Huang Danwei, Dr. Zeehan Jaafar, Dr. Toh Tai Chong, Dr. Karenne Tun), and contributions from >40 other scientists, this book tells the past, present and future of coral reefs here.

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.

6 Jul (Sat): A World Without Functional Mangroves? Public Forum

As part of the Mangrove, Macrobenthos & Management Conference 2019, the Organisers are holding a public forum on 'A World Without Functional Mangroves?'

Admission is FREE. Register at https://tiny.cc/mangrove_public_forum. All are welcome.

Join a team of experts for a mangrove-filled morning! Hosted by Dr. Zeehan Jaafar, the programme starts with a talk by Professor Joe Lee who will share the importance of mangrove forests to the well-being of people. This talk will discuss key issues in global and regional conservation of mangroves, such as threats they face and on-going potential restorative efforts.

A panel discussion follows this talk, and the audience are encouraged to pose questions on relevant mangrove-related issues. Panel members include Prof. Joe Lee (Chinese University Hong Kong), Dr. Siew Chin Chua (NUS), Dr. Stefano Cannicci (University of Hong Kong), and Mr. Muljadi Tantra (Green Forest Product & Tech Pte) who are experts in mangrove ecology, conservation and management.

Programme
1100hrs - Welcome Address
1110hrs - Talk: Professor Joe SY Lee.
1145hrs - Panel Discussion: Prof. Joe SY Lee, Dr. Siew Chin Chua, Dr. Steffano Cannicci, Mr. Muljadi Tantra
1215hrs - Closing Address

More about the upcoming conference here: https://www.mmm5singapore.com/

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!

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:

Volunteers needed for Nov 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme in July.

Photo by Liz Lim

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!

Survey: Have you seen any Sea Turtles around in Singapore waters and beaches?

Of lately, you have read about sea turtles hatching on the shores of Singapores! BUT have you personally seen them? If you have, here's your chance to contribute your precious sightings!

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.

Volunteers needed for July 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme in July.

Photo by Liz Lim

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