Marine Conservation Groups In Singapore’s Largest Coordinated Underwater Cleanup

On 09 June, our locally-based marine conservation groups joined hands for Singapore’s largest coordinated reef cleanup. The underwater cleanup was organised to commemorate World Oceans Day - a global celebration with worldwide events celebrating the ocean and creating awareness on the need for marine conservation.

"This collaboration aims to raise the profile of World Ocean Day in Singapore and with the help from the community, we are committed to reducing the amount of marine debris in our oceans."

--- Toh Tai Chong, Our Singapore Reefs ---

A total of 65 dive volunteers comprising scientists, researchers, S.E.A. Aquarium aquarists and marine enthusiasts, covered various locations around Lazarus Island. This underwater clean-up is also the first of its kind that involved three non-profit marine conservation groups - Our Singapore Reefs, International SeaKeepers Society Asia and Small Change - working alongside Resorts World Sentosa’s conservation group Guardians of the S.E.A.A., with support from scuba group, The Submersibles and Project Aware.

The divers recovered 1,887 pieces of marine debris weighing 127.5 kg within the span of just half a day. The top five category of items collected were plastic cutlery, styrofoam packaging, plastic bottles, plastic caps and lids, as well as fishing lines and nets.

"I have had an amazing time with the team. Unfortunately the low visibility hampered our removal of more underwater trash. However, the amount of surface trash caught in the breakwater was overwhelming and sadly we were unable to reach every spot. I think there is definitely more for us to do."

--- Gabor Bati, SeaKeepers Volunteer ---

All debris recovered was transported to One°15 Marina and Resorts World Sentosa for proper disposal. The data collected on the types, sources and location of marine debris will be reported to Project AWARE’s Dive Against Debris, a citizen-science programme that contributes to the global effort to combat marine debris.

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Café & Meal Muji At Jewel Changi Airport - Wholesome Yet Delicious

In Singapore’s fast paced environment, it is necessary to encourage the choice of a well-balanced, healthy meal. Café&Meal MUJI Singapore is dedicated to providing a selection of dishes made with these in mind - simplicity, quality, original, healthy and natural.

We tried out the exclusively Jewel set. The Jewel set consists of a main and two sides for a wholesome delicious meal. Sides seen here include Hokkaido Char Siew with Grilled Vegetables and Roasted Plum, Lime Dill Octopus Summer Stone Fruit Salad, Thick Omelette with Japanese-style Mushroom, Orecchiette Pasta and Mushroom Salad in Truffle Ranch Dressing.

True to its philosophy of 素の食 (su no shoku), Muji's taste is simple and uncomplicated yet surprisingly tasty with a hint of the freshness behind its wholesome ingredients.

Highly-enjoyable are the sweet Strawberry Fraisier (S$7.90), laced with a tinge mild Strawberry sourness to even out the taste, and the powerfully zesty Triple Berries and Apple Smoothie ($7.90) which packs refreshing oomph to up your energy level.

For more information on Muji, visit its website here.

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Gardens By The Bay - Tulipmania At The Dutch Countryside

Explore the Dutch countryside as Tulipmania returns to Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay with a brand-new tulip display set in an idyllic pastoral landscape. Discover the agricultural roots of the Netherlands with a stroll across blooming tulip fields dotted with traditional thatched-roof farmhouses, stopping ever so often to admire the over 35 varieties of tulips, including crowd-pleasers such as the brilliant golden "Yellow Flight" and new ones like the vibrant red and white "Singapura" which commemorates the 200th anniversary of Singapore's founding.

Imagine riding a bicycle through fields and fields of colourful tulips...

Or drive by with a mini-truck...

Along the way, learn about the different stages of growth in a tulip's life cycle, step into a windmill to take a closer look at its clockwork mechanism within, and look out for adorable cow and chicken sculptures roaming the tulip fields in a quaint little Dutch village.

Visit a Dutch farmhouse and see the waterwheel at work...

Idyllic scenes along the Dutch countryside...

Customize your own digital Delft Blue Tile at the KLM Gardens By The Bay Digital Wall in Flower Dome. Include a caption on why you love Tulipmania and stand a chance to win a pair of return KLM tickets to Amsterdam.

The Origami Tulip Project features delightful paper tulips folded members of our community, including school students, members of the public, and Gardens By The Bay staff and  volunteers. Through getting people together to fold origami tulips, the project promoted social interaction, an appreciation for nature and the beauty of flowers. 

Complementing the country-style tulip display this year is a European-themed fair that runs from 12 to 21 April in the Flower Field Hall. Experience a slice of Europe with an array of delicious food items, cultural performances and fun activities. 

Feast on unique Dutch food such as Bitterballen, a savoury Dutch snack made of meat, broth, butter and flour; Stroopwafel, a popular snack consisting of a waffle biscuit with a caramel filling; and Olliebollen, a traditional Dutch donut.

Tulipmania is on from 0900-2100 hours daily at the FLower Dome from 12 April - 20 May 2019. For more information, check out the Gardens By The Bay website here.

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Compass One's Go Sustainable Initiative

On 15 April, Compass One launched its green initiative as Singapore’s first mall to pledge support for The Food Bank’s "Food Wastage Reduction & Fight Hunger" movement.

A strong supporter of the waste reduction cause, this initiative is in line with NEA’s efforts to reduce food waste. Compass One is also the first mall to donate cooked food to Food Bank, which is now included in its food rescue plans. It has actively encouraged mall tenants to participate in this food wastage reduction drive by donating their excess cooked food to The Food Bank. 

The pioneer batch of participating mall tenants, such as Kopitiam, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Soup Restaurant, Ichiban Sushi and Hong Kong Sheng Kee Pau, has shown enthusiastic support for this food rescue programme. The donated food is stored, managed and distributed to over 300 charity organizations and beneficiaries in Singapore.

In conjunction with the food rescue programme for its green initiative, and with its aim to be a one-stop collection hub for recyclables and excess food within the neighbourhood for Sengkang residents and shoppers, Compass One is also launching a series of fringe activities to encourage the community to actively contribute to waste reduction. 

Try your hand at making a bag out of your old clothes : 1) Cut both sides of an old T-shirt to open up the seams. 2) Next, cut the bottom third of the shirt into inch-wide strips. 3) Tie each pair of strips together. 4) Cross tip adjoining strips. 5) You now have a bag made from your old T-shirt.

For more information on the initiative, visit the Compass One website here.

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The International SeaKeepers Society Asia - Awards Dinner 2019

Merlion Wayfarer recently attended The International SeaKeepers Society Asia Awards Dinner. The prestigious event was held at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore.

The event started with an address by Julian Chang, Director and Asia President, of The International SeaKeepers Society, and Richard Snow, President and CEO, and was followed by a sharing by Gail Tay, Director of Operations.

Midway, the presentation by Dr Poh Seng Chee and Dr James Tan of the Universiti Malaysia Trengganu Ocean Monitoring Project, and was followed with a presentation of SeaKeeper Awards, and Closing Remarks.

The ocean-friendly appetizer was Honey Mustard Graviax, Mango Salsa Poached Tiger Prawns, and Peruvian Sea Scallop with shiso cress and xres reduction...

Mains were either the Castaing Duck Confit with apple balsamic-glazed vegetables, whole grain mustard fingeling promme au jus, or the Provencale herbs Cruster White Snapper with vichy carrot, asparagus and grain dauphinoise beurre blanc...

With the dessert being Poached Pear Frangipane Tart with forest berry confiture, vanilla extract and almond crumbs...

About The International SeaKeepers Society

The International SeaKeepers Society supports marine science and conservation by utilizing yachts as platforms for marine research, educational outreach, and to deploy oceanographic instruments. The Society promotes oceanographic research, conservation, and education through direct involvement with the yachting community. It enables the yachting community to take full advantage of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and to raise awareness about global ocean issues. By tapping on yacht owners, expensive vessel costs are reduced while at the same time, permitting scientists to allocate those funds to maximize research potential.

Members of SeaKeepers include influential opinion leaders who believe that the best way to protect the environment is to protect the world’s oceans. They recognize the ocean’s critical importance to the life of our planet and are deeply committed to finding real-world solutions to the problems now plaguing our marine environment. The small but distinguished membership includes entrepreneurs, yachtsmen, corporations, divers, scientists and concerned citizens building a global effort to help restore and protect the world’s oceans. As a private/public collaborative effort, the Society focuses on critical ocean issues in cooperation with government agencies, other like-minded organizations, the academic community, and the public with the motto - "Research, Educate, Protect, and Restore". For more information, visit their website at www.seakeepers.org/aboutus/.

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