12: SEAGRASSES IN SINGAPORE: CURRENT STATUS AND LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLANS

The management of marine habitats in Singapore faces conflicting interests from various stakeholders in the public, private and industry sectors. Seagrasses form an integrated component of the marine ecological system, performing valuable roles such as providing food and refuge to marine organisms, offering a form of biodiversity and coastal protection, and improving water clarity. In Singapore's context, ongoing coastal development projects make it especially pertinent to apply cost-effective approaches to manage the remaining seagrass meadows which face various anthropogenic threats, such as oil spills, port expansion and maritime activities, reclamation and dredging works. Surprisingly, seagrass areas remain at various locations of mainland Singapore and the offshore islands, with some having a healthy cover and a rich biodiversity. To gain important perspectives on managing seagrass habitats in Singapore, an efficient strategy requires working with and not against development. Effective management approaches for long-term sustainability of seagrasses should take into account their connectivity with other habitats such as corals and mangroves, thus incorporating laws to manage seagrasses as part of the marine ecosystem and not as individual species. Apart from improving national legislation, other management components, such as regional and international cooperation, streamlining seagrass research areas to address anthropogenic threats, improving mapping and monitoring methods, raising awareness and involving various stakeholders with an interest in the environment and looking at mitigation measures including seagrass restoration, are all part of the recipe for effective management.