Upcoming new IMAX movie "Under the Sea 3D"

Narrated by comedian Jim Carrey, IMAX have given a sneak peek into "Under the Sea 3D", their latest movie shot in the most exotic and isolated undersea locations. Among the introductory clips is this one about sharks and fish in the Coral Triangle.
There are more clips about reef sounds, Australian lion fish, a sea turtle eating a jellyfish and corals of the Coral Triangle. It will be showing from 13 Feb and hopefully also at our own Omni-Theatre at the Singapore Science Centre.

Five Stunning Clips and a Trailer From 'Under the Sea 3D'
Aceshowbiz 31 Jan 09;

IMAX have given a sneak peek into "Under the Sea 3D" by releasing trailer and five clips of the 3-D documentary. While the trailer explores the overall beauty and natural wonder of the oceans, each of the clip serves as an individual introduction of some of the ocean creatures, from reef squids to green sea turtle.

Narrated by comedian Jim Carrey, the five clips are titled "Reef Sound", "Australian Sea Lions", "Coral Triangle 1: Coral", "Coral Triangle 2: Sharks and Fish" and "Green Sea Turtle and Jellyfish". Around a minute long, each of the clips takes its focus on the uniqueness of the sea creatures put under the spotlight and helps one to understand how global climate change impacts the creatures.

Set to be released on February 13, "Under the Sea 3D" is a 3-D documentary from director Howard Hall. Taking place at some of the most exotic and isolated undersea locations on Earth, including Southern Australia, New Guinea and others in the Indo-Pacific region, it allows viewers to experience face-to-face encounters with some of the most mysterious and stunning creatures of the sea.

More on the "Under the Sea 3D" website.

4 Feb (Wed): Launch of "Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008" and Public Lecture on "Sustainable Development of Coasts and Oceans"

Southeast Asia Launch
of the Report on the
"Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008"

in conjunction with

Public Lecture on
"Sustainable Development of Coasts and Oceans:
threats, opportunities and responsible governance"
by Dr. Chua Thia-Eng
Chair of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council
of the Partnerships in Environmental Management
for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)

About the Book Launch
This "Status of coral Reefs of the World:2008" is under the auspices of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRNM) of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). The lead author for the Southeast Asia chapter, Ms Karenne Tun of the National University of Singapore will be presenting a summary of the "Status of Coral Reefs in Southeast Asia 2008". Media articles about this Report, and previous Reports by the GCRNM.

About the Public Lecture
A brief introduction of ocean as the last frontier: its importance to the survival of mankind, its contribution to marine economy and the focus of human activities and culture in the 21st century. An analysis of old and new challenges (climate change, energy and financial crisis) to the security of the ocean and the new opportunities (including ecological and biological economies) arising from them. The need for developing and strengthening responsible ocean governance and activities and role and key activities of PEMSEA in promoting regional cooperation and partnership in addressing these challenges.

All are welcome!

Programme Outline

• 6.30 pm: The Southeast Asia Launch of the Report on the "Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2008" – Presentation on the summary of the SE Asia Chapter by Ms Karenne Tun
• 7.00 pm: Public Lecture on "Sustainable Development of Coasts and Oceans: threats, opportunities and responsible governance" by Dr. Chua Thia-Eng
• 8.00pm: Q&A Session
• 8.15pm: End of event

Time: 6.30pm; refreshments will be served from 5.45pm onwards
Venue: Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Location map and getting there on the Botanic Gardens website
Contact: Rachel/Shufen at 6465 1690/1

Ocean Conference at ADEX Singapore 3-4 Apr 09

Topics to be covered include: Aquariums & Oceanariums, Marine Eco Tourism, Regenerating Reefs, Climate Change with speakers such as Prof Chou Loke Ming, Neville Coleman, Michael Aw.

Ocean Conference is a special focus conference for companies with strong environmental stewardship, conservationists, passionate divers, marine enthusiasts and underwater photographers.

It is the first and largest event of its kind in Singapore where 8 internationally renowned experts will convene to offer professional insight into various aspects of the vast marine environment. 150 delegates from around the world are expected at Ocean Conference.

3 April 2009 - Friday

• Opening address – The Ocean In Perspective: Emory Kristof
• Underwater Rainforests – The Challenges of Preserving Coral Reefs: Helen Newman/ Mark Erhmann
• Marine Eco Tourism - The Asia/Indo-Pacific Marine Life Inventory: Neville Coleman
• Regenerating Reefs – Facts and Fallacies: Prof Chou Loke Ming
• Changing the Face of Ocean Terror: Michael Aw

4 Aprl 2009 - Saturday

• Marine Tourism – Boon and Bane, Advantages or Nuisances: Neville Coleman (Chair), Helen Newman, Henrik Nimb, Yatin Premchand
• Climate Change, Coral Reefs & Scuba Diver: Prof Chou Loke Meng (Chair), Henrik Nimb, Howard Shaw, Mark Erdmann
• Aquariums & Oceanariums - Contentious Issues: Emory Kristof (Chair), Henrik Nimb, Neville Coleman, Yatin Premchand
• Carbon’s Footprint and its Effects on the Ocean: Howard Shaw
• Projecting Green Branding, Mere Advertising or True CSR?: Howard Shaw (Chair), Helen Newman, Neville Coleman, Michael Aw

Dates: 3 and 4 April 2009
Time: 3 April, 2.00pm – 5.30pm, Conference Sessions;
4 April, 9.30am – 5.00pm, Conference Sessions & Panel Discussion
Venue: Suntec Singapore, 602-603

More details on the ADEX website.

WWF Singapore looking for Singapore Sustainable Seafood Campaign consultant

The live reef fish trade (LRFT) has been identified as a serious threat.

Juvenile humphead wrasse (far left and far right), amongst other live tropical coral reef fish kept in water tanks before being sold to customers. Fish market, Hong Kong. China. From the WWF website.

WWF Singapore, in partnership with the Coral Triangle Network Initiative (CTNI), has developed a project to increase the awareness of Singaporean consumers on the need to make a sustainable choice when purchasing seafood and to utilize a resident “customized” Singapore seafood guide to make those choices. The awareness campaign will focus on seafood consumption in Singapore.

In order to develop the full “customized” Singapore seafood guide, an inventory of seafood products traded in Singapore will need to be determined.

WWF is seeking an experienced fisheries biologist/ecologist to collect data on seafood on sale in Singapore at various wholesale and retail outlets in Singapore.

Interested applicants are requested to send a copy of their CV to Ms Amy Ho, Managing Director, WWF Singapore at aho@wwf.sg, by 24 Jan 2009.

Full details on the WWF Singapore website, at this PDF download.

See also earlier media reports on this fish guide.

First look at data on Singapore's seagrass meadows

TeamSeagrass has been monitoring Singapore seagrass meadows for two years. The data is submitted among others to international Seagrass-Watch. Seagrass-Watch HQ has been busy over the New Year updating web pages for each of the monitoring regions with the latest available data.

Here's a peek at the trends on Chek Jawa. There's data too for Pulau Semakau!
As well as write ups about other features of our shores.

Visit the Seagrass-Watch website pages on Singapore to have a look at what all the hard work by TeamSeagrass has revealed about our shores!

To find out more about see the TeamSeagrass blog for registration details. You CAN make a difference for our shores!

Last lows of 2008

On the dark moonless nights of the last not so low tides of 2008, more shores were explored. The 'moon slug' was spotted again! As well as other surprises: marine and terrestrial on our islands.

The Hantu Bloggers had their last dive of the year at the fantastic reefs of Pulau Hantu. The intrepid Chay Hoon captured a whole host of the marvellous marine life there. Such as seahorses, icon sea stars, ovulid snails on sea fans and lots and lots of slugs. Including this very greedy nudibranch!
The Semakau Book Project brought many nature lovers to Pulau Semakau again. The Butterfly Circle in just one quick visit came up with 18 species of butterflies! John, an expert on bees and wasps also came along and share more about this gianormous hornet's nest on the island!
While more mangroves were explored with an encounter with Avicennia marina just off the seawall.

The Vertebrate Group (aka the Verters) also made an evening trip to check out the island. These experts helped those unfamiliar with life above the high water mark, to find the vertebrates on Pulau Semakau. There were frogs and toads and geckoes, even right on the tarmac!In the dark, the experts detected signs of bats and night birds. While other large marine life in the mangroves were seen, including a humungous Mud crab!
The blue skies made even sad situations look nice, and the weather was glorious for landscape shots, although the mozzies made things challeging.

Meanwhile a visit to Sultan Shoal by other shore explorers revealed some interesting fiddler crabs and other sightings.
Diehard shore explorers spent the absolute last low tide of 2008 at the Sisters Island. Where marvellous video clips of 'Nemos' were shot, and the spotted Moon-headed side-gill slug made an appearance, while two sea snakes said hello.As the tides were not very low during this period, other less glamorous shores were also examined with some surprises! There were stars on Sembawang shores And stars too at Pasir Ris and on the reclaimed shores of Lazarus. Kranji was a little disappointing and Seletar was viewed only from afar.

There were also belated updates about amazing marine life on Siloso Beach Sentosa on the aptly named Lazy Lizard's Tales blog.
The Naked Hermit Crabs also had a great time at the last guided Chek Jawa Boardwalk tour for the year.

The first super low tides of 2009 are fast approaching in a few days' time. No doubt more shore discoveries will be made!

Happy 2009 Everyone!

9 Jan (Fri): Workshop on Hard Corals for nature guides

The Hard Cnidarians Workshop
by the Leafmonkey Workshop

What are "hard cnidarians"? These aren't difficult cnidarians, but corals with hard skeletons!The focus of this workshop is on connecting ordinary people with nature. If you are a nature guide and have been struggling, trying to digest and convert biological facts to fun stories for your visitors, this workshop is for you!

This workshop aims to bring experienced and new nature guides together to brainstorm ideas. Let's learn from one another, and come up with new ways to share our passion.

Be prepared to work hard, have fun, make new friends and definitely learn new ways of looking at guiding and our wild places.

SPEAKER
Jeffrey Low, Blue Water Volunteers and NParks
Jeff is a marine biologist by training and profession. He is the scientific officer of Blue Water Volunteers and Hard Coral Master (see his flickr coral guide). Jeff also conducts a series of ReefFriends training sessions for volunteer divers surveying our shores.


Jeff giving a talk about corals in Singapore at the International Year of the Reef 2008 launch, Reef Celebrations, with a video clip of his talk.

More details of the event on the Leafmonkey Workshop

Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983 [Map]
Website: http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Contact: leafmonkey@gmail.com