Thursday 4 May 2017

Amazing April at the Sisters Islands Marine Park

Another awesome month of outreach by the volunteers of the Sisters Islands Marine Park.
Happy visitors during the public walk on 30 Apr
Photo by Richard Kuah.
Together with NParks staff, they conducted public walks and did outreach during ADEX, the dive expo. They also helped to document the annual mass coral spawning that happens every April. And the Marine Park was featured in an article about the history of Singapore's reefs by Marcus Ng.


There were two public walks at the Marine Park this month. Always a delight to introduce our amazing marine life to regular people.
Visitors at the Good Friday walk 19 Apr
Photo by Adrianne Lee.
Highlights include 'Nemo' - Clown anemonefishes live with sea anemones!


More photos of a typical public walk thanks to Victor Toh.


The Sisters Islands Marine Park at ADEX, 7-9 Apr

Volunteers of the Marine Park helped to share information about the mass coral bleaching that happened in 2016. With great panels put up by NParks.

Thanks to the volunteers and NParks!

Here's what happened, photos and videos thanks to Heng Pei Yan.


April is Coral Orgy time!

Singapore's corals are alive and very sexy too. Their annual orgy of explosive sex happened in April! Once a year, on the fourth month, around four days after the full moon, our corals seed the seas with new life! Some volunteers of the Sisters Islands Marine Park joined NParks to help document this spectacular annual underwater event in Singapore's waters. Here's an awesome video clip by Marine Park volunteer Vincent Choo.

It was relief to know that they spawned because our corals suffered from mass coral bleaching in 2016. Although "greatly reduced spawning intensity" was recorded this year compared to past years, from Singapore mass coral spawning less intense this year by Audrey Tan Straits Times 21 Apr 17. More about mass coral spawning 2017.

History of Singapore's reefs leading up to the Marine Park

The rich history of Singapore reefs leading up to the formation of the Sisters Islands Marine Park was featured in an article by Marcus Ng. "The reefs that fringed Singapore’s coastline and islands have served for centuries as maritime markers, fishing grounds and even homes for island communities. Marcus Ng rediscovers the stories that lurk beneath the waves."
From "Through Time And Tide: A Survey of Singapore’s Reefs"
by Marcus Ng on BiblioAsia.
More about guided walks at the Sisters' Islands Marine Park on the NParks website.

More about what to expect at a guided walk.

Why should I visit with an experienced and trained guide? Why are places limited on a public walk? Which other shores are accessible to the public? and more in this wildsingapore page.

More about volunteering with the Sisters Islands Marine Park.

Catch up with all the happenings at the Marine Park through the Sisters' Islands Marine Park facebook page. You can share your encounters, ideas and thoughts for the Marine Park here. Photos in this blog post are from those who shared on this facebook page. Thank you!

No comments:

Post a Comment