Starting in 2024, 100,000 corals will be gradually planted in Singapore's seas as part of the nation's largest reef restoration project to date.

This extensive project complements Singapore's existing coral restoration efforts which began in 2016, spearheaded by statutory board NParks.

To achieve this feat, baby corals, or coral fragments, have been grown in nurseries for at least 10 years. Once they are big enough, they will be transplanted onto damaged reefs or in new locations that can support coral habitats.

This is in line with the country's goal of increasing its marine biodiversity and shielding its coasts from storm surges and waves.

According to Dr Karenne Tun, director of NParks’ National Biodiversity Centre, “By introducing 100,000 corals, we hope that as they grow, they’ll increase in size and contribute to the overall increase in the spatial coral cover within the reefs in Singapore.”

To date, Singapore has lost over 60 percent of its reef area to land development and reclamation. The southern islands, including Pulau Satumu (where Raffles Lighthouse is located), Pulau Semakau, Pulau Hantu and the Sisters Islands, are home to the majority of the remaining healthy reefs.