Labrador Beach a living classroom

The stretch of coastline near Pasir Panjang is the only place on the main island that has live coral next to shore

By Chan Kay Min

DESPITE Singapore's rush to join the modern world, Labrador Beach remains much the same as what Sir Stamford Raffles would have seen it, according to marine biologist Leo Tan.

The beach's accessibility makes it easy for students to walk among its tidal pools to study marine life.--STEPHANIE YEOW

'It's actually a pretty ugly beach,' said Professor Tan, of the 300-m stretch of coastline near Pasir Panjang.

He said: 'But it's the only place on the main island left that has a decent stretch of live coral next to the shore. The rest of Singapore's coastline is either mangrove swamp or reclaimed land.

'Marine biology students can study the marine life of this rocky shore without having to make a trip to the outlying islands.'

Its accessibility made it easy for generations of biology undergraduates from the National University of Singapore to walk among its tidal pools at low tide, turning over rocks to uncover marine animals.

Numerous scientific publications have been written based on studies of this beach as it has a rich selection of marine life, ranging from sea grapes to toadfish and octopus.

Biologists have been collecting plant and animal specimens there for more than a century. Four new species were discovered there as recently as 1991.

According to Prof Tan, marine organisms have the potential of yielding bioactive substances or useful chemicals that could be used as cures for diseases.

'Labrador Beach is a living instructional museum,' said Prof Tan. 'Besides its scientific and recreational value, it also has the heritage value of what it was like in the past.

'Raffles must have seen it like this in his day,' he said of the British statesman who founded Singapore in 1819.

The beach also has a special place in the heart of the 56-year-old professor.

He lived in the area as a boy and spent many a day exploring the beach.

When the then Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) announced plans to construct new port facilities in the south-western part of Singapore in 1990, Labrador Beach was slated for reclamation.

Prof Tan became the most ardent advocate for leaving it intact. He cited sound scientific data instead of emotional reasons to support his stand.

'To me, conservation doesn't mean preserving something for eternity. I will not stand in the way if our nation needs to modernise in order to survive.

'All I ask is that reclamation be delayed for as long as it is feasible. If Labrador Beach can be preserved for the next 20 or 30 years, I will be very happy,' said Prof Tan.

After listening to representations by various environmental groups, the PSA decided later that year not to reclaim the beach - for the time being.

'Singapore has come a long way,' said Prof Tan, who is the director of the Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University.

'It makes sense to preserve the beach as a comparison for future generations to see how far we have come,' he said.