Six more dates released for guided walks at Singapore’s first Marine Park

SINGAPORE — More dates have been set aside for the introductory guided walks on Singapore’s first Marine Park.

Spanning some 40 hectares — about the size of 50 football fields — around Sisters’ Islands, the western reefs of both St John’s Island and Pulau Tekukor, these areas were chosen for their variety of habitats, including coral reefs, sandy shores and seagrass areas.

Previously, only two dates, Aug 14 and 15, were released for these guided walks. The National Parks Board (NParks) said these sessions have been fully subscribed despite tripling the capacity for the guided walks from 15 to 45 people per day.

Six more dates have since been set for the guided walks, on Sept 10 and 11, Nov 23 and 24 and Dec 22 and 23. Each session can accommodate up to 45 people.

These two-hour guided walks will be jointly organised by NParks and nature groups such as WildSingapore and Nature Society Singapore. Visitors will be introduced to marine species like the Giant Clams, Black Sea Cucumbers, Seahorses, among others.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the guided walk along Sisters’ Islands today (July 15), Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said NParks will also look at how to manage the number people visiting the area to balance conservation against visitorship.

“We have bookings online, so we control the numbers through guided tours. Of course people are free to visit the island, but when they do so, we strongly encourage them to be respectful of the biodiversity and fragile ecosystem here,” he said.

As the guided walks are currently limited to the shores off Sisters’ Islands, Mr Lee said certain areas will have to be maintained first for research and education purposes before considering if they will be opened to members of the public.

Future plans for the marine park include building a marine research centre on St John’s Island next year and the installation of light infrastructure, such as stepping stones, for the area.