To protect dolphins and dugong: reduce boat speed and restrict entry at hot spots

NUS scientists urge increased protection for marine mammals in Singapore's waters, identifying hotspots near the Sungei Johor Estuary, the Southern Islands and the Western Islands.

Dugong feeding trails at Chek Jawa, Mar 2024

Research suggests reduced vessel speeds and restricted entry in hotspots can mitigate boat strikes, mirroring protection in Queensland.

MRT tunnels planned under Sg Pang Sua

1km long tunnels will be built underneath Sungei Kadut Avenue, Sungei Kadut Way and Woodlands Road, to a depth of up to 21m. The first new station will be along Sungei Kadut Avenue. Work will start second quarter of 2026 and passenger service for the new stations will start in 2035.

Sg Pang Sua mangroves along Sg Kadut Ave
during our survey in Dec 2025

LTA has conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment and will implement “all the necessary mitigation measures” outlined in the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan, and will continue its engagement with various stakeholders, including nature groups, throughout the process.

Advisory to shield marine mammals from noise

According to the Straits Times, NParks is drawing up an advisory that informs developers on ways to avoid harming dolphins and dugongs in Singapore’s waters.

Dugong feeding trails on Cyrene opposite
Pasir Panjang Container Terminals, May 2025

Work on the advisory follows an NUS study compiling all reliable records of marine mammals in Singapore from 1820 to 2024 to identify hot spots.

This complements a separate project by NUS researchers that monitored the vocalisations of marine mammals between 2019 and 2022. Funded by NParks, the acoustic project highlighted that both Sisters’ Islands and Kusu Island recorded the highest number of vocal detections of dolphins, "playing a key factor in safeguarding this location as the second marine park,” said Dr Dr Karenne Tun.

She did not mention when the advisory will be ready.

Sentosa Tg Rimau still alive but quiet

We return to a beloved Sentosa shore, 1.5 years after the 400tonne Pasir Panjang oil spill in Jun 2024. I feel the shores were quieter compared to our survey in  Aug 2024  two months after the oil spill.

While seagrasses are doing well on the eastern side, on the western side, the Tape seagrass are cropped short. There seemed to be fewer hard and soft corals on the eastern side. The team saw interesting marine like the Tiger cowrie, many crabs and fishes. I will update with their sightings after they share their photos.

Pasir Ris west still alive

Reclamation is planned near the western end of Pasir Ris. So a small team returns on an evening low tide for the first time since  Mar 2020. 

Although we didn't see as much diversity as on our previous surveys, the seagrasses are still doing well, and there were many carpet anemones.

Labrador Jetty closed 12 Dec 2025

The jetty at Labrador is closed from 12 Dec 2025 for safety reasons until further notice - from the NParks website. Stomp reported four people were stuck on Labrador Jetty for three hours on this date. A fallen tree badly damaged and obstructed the entrance. SCDF used a ladder to bring the people from the jetty down to the beach.

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