SINGAPORE: Local marine conservation advocates and recreational divers have raised concerns over development plans for a cluster of islands west of Singapore, including one of the country's most popular dive sites.In response to the concerns, a Ministry of National Development (MND) spokesperson said the government “recognises the biodiversity value of the western Islands and its surrounding”, and it is “carefully studying the plans as there is a need to plan ahead and create options for the future". As part of the planning process, the ministry said it will conduct technical studies to inform the development plans, including the reclamation profile. These will include feasibility studies, site investigations and surveys, and engineering and environmental studies, to better understand development possibilities and their preliminary impact on areas such as biodiversity and hydrodynamics."We will engage stakeholders early to listen to their inputs before studies and work commence, and their feedback will be carefully considered," the spokesperson said. "Their knowledge and expertise will help inform the studies, assess potential biodiversity impact and identify measures to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts where possible."Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at his National Day Rally on Sunday (Aug 23) that several islands, including Semakau, Bukom and Pulau Sudong, could be merged to support new industries and future power generation needs.Pulau Hantu sits amid the three islands, and dive operators fear reclamation or access restrictions could harm both the marine environment and the local diving industry built around the site.Mr Wong also announced that steps will be taken to improve access to Sentosa's western coastline, which is home to rich marine life and unique geology, while preserving its natural character.Advocates are also calling for biodiversity experts and community groups to be more closely involved in the planning process, so that ecological and environmental concerns are brought to the table.BIODIVERSITY VALUE OF ISLANDSStakeholders and observers highlighted the biodiversity value of the marine life and habitat at the islands slated for development.Dr Lim Swee Cheng, a marine biologist and curator at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said the island cluster represents a "very substantial portion of Singapore's remaining southern marine habitats", known among researchers and naturalists for its rich coral reefs and associated marine life."Some of these areas have remained relatively undisturbed because of restricted access, which has allowed comparatively healthy reef communities to persist despite Singapore's long history of coastal development," he said.Ms Jharyathri Thiagarajah, who leads outreach and education at the museum, said Singapore's offshore islands are valuable as they support marine life and habitats "that are increasingly rare in our highly urbanised environment."Ms Thiagarajah has led visits for students and members of the public to the islands, including Pulau Hantu and Pulau Semakau, since 2015.From a biodiversity conservation perspective, such a development could permanently erase or alter habitats, species and ecological relationships that researchers may not even fully understand yet, she said. "Once these natural environments are gone, they cannot simply be recreated elsewhere." Ms Kong Man Jing, co-founder of science and nature social media channel Just Keep Thinking, said reefs in the island cluster are the result of around 8,000 years of natural development, something that is "incredibly difficult to contemplate losing"."The Southern Islands also form an ecologically connected network, with reefs around islands such as Sudong, Pawai and Senang identified as important sources of coral larvae for other reefs," said Ms Kong.