Fabulous February at the Sisters Islands Marine Park

In February, the Sisters Islands Marine Park was officially conferred legal protection after Parliament passed amendments to the Parks and Trees Act to legislatively delineate the boundaries of Marine Park. Hurray!

Another glorious day exploring the Marine Park
with volunteers on a public intertidal walk.
Photo by Richard Kuah.

Next steps include bringing stakeholders together to form Friends of the Sisters Islands Marine Park! There was also another great public intertidal walk by volunteers. And the Marine Park was featured in an exciting 'virtual dive' tool to help train for scientific work on the reefs.


It's official!

In February, Parliament passed amendments to the Parks and Trees Act to legislatively delineate the boundaries of the Sisters Islands Marine Park in the Act, and confer legal protection on the designated foreshore and marine areas of the Marine Park. For instance, fishing, collecting coral or mooring boats will not be permitted without NParks' approval.

Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee, in announcing the above, also shared that "we will soon bring together members of the marine conservation community, recreational fishing community, boat operators and other stakeholders to start the process of drafting subsidiary regulations governing the Marine Park. This may include restricting diving to certain areas, regulating the movement of vessels, and prohibiting the dropping of anchors at ecologically sensitive areas.

But conservation in Singapore cannot just be about NParks and the green community making and enforcing rules - to restrict this or prohibit that. It has to be so much more about education, outreach, inspiration and excitement, so that successive generations of Singaporeans see themselves as active stewards and custodians of the precious natural heritage in our City in a Garden.

What is next? Bring together different stakeholders to form our Friends of the Sisters Islands Marine Park!"



Media articles on the Parliamentary amendments are compiled here.

Virtual Marine Park

The Sisters Islands Marine Park was featured in a 'virtual dive', which is a great teaching tool for dive surveys, a literal 'dry run' for training people to do reef transects. With all kinds of other possible interesting applications.

Trying out the 'virtual dive'
Photo by Ria Tan.

Called "Eyes on Habitat: Coral Reefs" the public can try out the standalone prototype at PIXEL Labs at National Design Centre and Jurong Regional Library in March.

Media articles on the 'virtual dive' are compiled here.

Great walk at the Marine Park

Volunteer guides once again shared the Marine Park with the public! Thanks to Richard Kuah for these photos.


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.
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!