RWS conservation effort gains traction

To support marine conservation and research, RWS rolled out a multi-million dollar RWS Marine Life Fund in May and announced that shark fin will not be served on menus across its premises.

With a quarter of the fund devoted to school children aged between 10 and 18 years old, the Marine Life Fund hopes to nurture budding marine researchers by supporting their school projects. It is also open to marine conservationists and scientists for research and education undertakings.>

RWS will support the fund with up to S$100,000 grant each year for 2008 and 2009, and up to S$1 million annually after the resort opens in 2010. Applications can be made on www.rwsentosa.com

Given the declining population of sharks, RWS is planning for a resort-wide no-shark-fin menu when it opens. RWS believes that the consumption of shark fins is unsustainable, and is hopeful that it can make a difference to shark conservation by taking a stand.

In other conservation efforts spearheaded by RWS, corals saved from the coral relocation project in July 2007 are having a promising start at new reefs set up in Singapore's southern islands. Almost a year has passed since the corals and marine creatures such as sea horses were moved from their home at Sentosa's northern shoreline to make way for the resort's land reclamation. A census done in April this year shows that over 75 per cent of the corals are doing well under the care of RWS consultant DHI, which manages the reefs.