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SINGAPORE – A lagoon on St John’s Island will soon open to the public for research, education and conservation activities.
The 3.9ha Bendera Bay, previously inaccessible to the public, consists of a lagoon with a variety of habitats of mangroves, corals, seagrasses, sandy shores and rocky shores.
Access to the fenced area will be allowed only through scheduled programs, as part of efforts to safeguard it. These planned programs will take place early next year, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
Bendera Bay was launched by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, along with Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and GRC MP Ang Mo Kio, Nadia Ahmad Samdin, on Sunday morning (December 13).
Its name was inspired by Pulau Sekijang Bendera, the indigenous Malay name for the island of San Juan.
The Friends of Marine Park community, comprising stakeholders and volunteers such as divers, fishermen, boat owners, academics, and government agencies, will schedule programs to take place there.
The activities, supported by the National Parks Board (NParks), focus on four themes: research, recreation, heritage and education, said Stephen Beng, president of Friends of Marine Park.
For example, researchers at the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory are conducting research on seagrasses. Other research opportunities in the works involve the connected areas of mangroves, seagrasses and coral in the Bay of Bendera.
Beach cleanup activities will be held to inform the public about the impact of marine litter. More educators will be encouraged to develop and carry out activities based on nature and culture there.
Recreation programs include workshops for the community to learn about the importance of sustainable fishing. Citizen science dives will also be organized for people to understand and experience what researchers do underwater and how they can help.
On the heritage side, the ancient islanders will take more guided walks on St John’s Island and share stories about life there.
At the opening of the Bay of Bendera, the community held some trial activities for future events, including a walk between tides to showcase the seagrasses and marine biodiversity there.
Participants will provide feedback to refine the activities before they open to the public.
Mr. Tan, who was a former minister of state in the Ministry of National Development, said he is encouraged to see that the spirit of collaboration and stewardship has continued to grow since he was in the ministry.
Community stewardship is integral to Singapore’s marine conservation and outreach efforts, he added.
He added that the bay’s variety of habitats makes it an excellent place for the public to appreciate the country’s rich biodiversity and for researchers to conduct studies.
However, there is still a need to restrict access to the bay to protect the habitats within it, he noted.
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