the diversity, ecology, and restoration of coral reef ecosystems in Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, Prof Chou
SEEN & HEARD
Man In The
Middle Of
Marine Conservation
Just like the ripple ef fect, one person’s actions can influence waves of change.
P
rof Chou Loke Ming obtained his PhD in Zoology from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1976. He retired in 2014 after 37 years of service to the NUS. Since then, he has been Adjunct Research Professor at the Tropical Marine Science Institute, with past and current joint adjunct appointments at the Department of Biological Sciences and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. Raffles Marina is honoured and privileged that Prof Chou has for many years served as a Member of Raffles Marina’s General Committee and as Chairman of the Conservation Sub-Committee. T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e a Ke e p e r s S o c i e t y p r o m o t e s oceanographic research, conservation and education, through direct involvement with the yachting community. SeaKeepers enables the yachting community to take full advantage of their unique potential, to advance marine sciences and to raise awareness about global ocean issues.
NAUTIQUE JAN/FEB 17
For his research at the Reef Ecology Lab in NUS, on the diversity, ecology, and restoration of coral reef ecosystems in Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, Prof Chou was recently conferred SeaKeeper of the World, Singapore, by the International SeaKeepers Society. Over 150 VIP guests were in attendance to celebrate the unveiling of the SeaKeepers Asia outreach, headed by Raffles Marina Member Julian Chang.
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Prof Chou also coordinated and edited the 2009 State of the Marine Environment Report for the East Asian Seas for the United Nations Environment Programme. His current research focus is reef restoration and he is particularly interested in how corals can be reestablished in the highly turbid conditions of rapidly developing coastal areas. Prof Chou has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (International Coral Reef Initiative), serving as its Chairman from 2003 to 2005. He has actively contributed to the regular regional compilation of the
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Prof Chou Loke Ming
health of coral reefs for the Status of Coral Reefs of the World reports published by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Status of Coral Reefs of East Asia published by Japan’s Ministry of Environment since 1988. Cur re nt ly a n H o no ra r y Fe l lo w o f t he S inga po re Institute of Biology and a Fellow of the Singapore National Academy of Science, Prof Chou has provided consultancy services in the field of marine environment management to international agencies like United Nations Environment Programme, Food & Agriculture Organization and the World Bank, as well as to many national agencies. His passion for marine conservation saw him teaming up with Francis Lee, President of Raffles Marina (RM) on a number of initiatives since 1988 when the latter was Commodore of Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC). Both facilitated the Singapore Reef Survey that involved over 150 trained volunteer divers under the Singapore Marine and Reef Conservation Committee. It included representation from Singapore Institute of Biology, Singapore Underwater Federation and RSYC. The survey mapped out four main areas in Singapore with healthier reefs and the results were incorporated within the two editions of the Blue Plan that were submitted to the government. Prof Chou together with Mr Lee co-chaired the Aseanarean Expeditions and organised the scientific support for the trips to the marine parks of Thailand in 1996 and Indonesia in 1999. With RM’s support, Prof Chou has carried out a number of research projects at the marina. These include the utilisation of species to improve water quality and more recently, the marine biodiversity within and without the marina. The latter study indicated that the marina supported a higher biodiversity than the surrounding waters and can function as a marine refugia. The significance of this study is that when carefully managed, coastal development can be carried out without obliterating marine biodiversity.
