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Garden City Fund
Conservation and Research

Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey

1 November 2010

Launched in 2010, the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey has collected 30,000 specimens, identified 14 potentially new species and over 80 new records for Singapore.

In partnership with

Asia Pacific Breweries (Singapore) Pte Ltd

S$250,000 to finance the seabed survey and a roving marine biodiversity exhibition.

HSBC Care for Nature Trust Fund

S$250,000 to finance equipment required for the survey.

Shell
S$300,000 to support overseas scientific experts/researchers.

The Air Liquide Group
Euro$20,000 to finance the coral reef survey.

About the Project

A person sorts through a blue tray containing various marine creatures and debris.

The Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey (CMBS) was initiated by a proposal from the Blue Plan Group which was submitted to the Singapore government in 2009. It was agreed that Singapore should conduct a comprehensive survey to document all of our marine life in all of our natural marine habitats.

Apart from taking stock of Singapore's marine biodiversity, CMBS also aims to build local capacity in the field of marine biology, spread awareness and increase appreciation of our marine natural heritage.

Led by the NParks, the survey brings together experts and partners from tertiary institutions (National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University), non-governmental organisations (Blue Plan Group, Nature Society Singapore) and volunteers from the community at large.

Launched in November 2010, the CMBS will be carried out in phases over five years. Some 350 local volunteers have contributed in various aspects of the CMBS, including photography, outdoor field sampling and collection, specimen processing, database support as well as organising outreach programmes.

As of May 2013, the project has collected some 30,000 specimens through surveys conducted in mudflats, seabeds and reef habitats. Of these, 14 species have been identified as possibly new to science, more than 80 new records for Singapore have been found and about 10 species have been rediscovered.

We are also excited to share that phase two of CMBS was launched in October 2024. This is in collaboration with National University of Singapore (NUS), led by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), and the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI). This will expand on the findings from CMBS I, incorporating quantitative surveys to establish a baseline of crucial areas and conducting comprehensive surveys of key biomes which were not studied previously.  We are still short of funds for this project. If you are able to support, please email us at garden_city_fund@nparks.gov.sg.

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