Debated in Parliament on 7 May 2024.
Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for National Development in view of rising temperatures and effects of El Nino (a) what are the measures in place to protect our marine ecosystems; and (b) whether the Ministry conducts any studies to understand the implication of a warmer temperature on marine animals in Singapore.
The National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a science-based approach towards protecting our marine ecosystems, which encompasses proactive monitoring and mitigation and research.
We are mindful that the world is currently experiencing the fourth global coral bleaching event on record, arising from rising temperatures and the effects of El Nino. NParks has been monitoring local coral reefs through various channels. These include tracking satellite data on sea surface temperatures and collaborating with researchers, citizen scientists and recreational divers to document and submit observations of coral bleaching. Such data will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of the situation in Singapore and guide our response plans accordingly. As of April 2024, we have not observed any bleaching in our local coral reefs.
NParks also leads the Marine Climate Change Science research programme, which aims to study and develop solutions to address the impacts of climate change on our marine ecosystems. The research findings will guide measures to enhance marine ecosystem resilience against climate change-induced disturbances and safeguard our natural marine ecosystems through management interventions, such as the restoration of coral reef diversity. An example would be NParks' efforts to progressively grow and plant 100,000 corals in Singapore's waters to enhance marine biodiversity and protect coastlines from waves and storms. This initiative scales up NParks' existing coral restoration efforts, such as the "Plant-A-Coral, Seed-A-Reef" programme that started in 2016.
Ongoing research projects on the enhancement of coral reef resilience to climate change and the survival thresholds of coral reefs in Singapore are slated for completion between 2027 to 2028.
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