Marine Sand

September 6, 2023

GS Paper III Environment and Ecology

Context:

Six billion tonnes of annual sand extraction from the world’s ocean floors is causing irreversible harm to marine benthic life, as revealed by a new global data platform on marine sediment extraction.

About Marine Sand

Marine sand (or ocean sand) is a granular particle composed of silica, rock fragments and mineral particles.

Dredging:

Dredging is the removal of sediments and debris from the bottom of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water bodies.
It is a routine necessity in waterways around the world because sedimentation—the natural process of sand and silt washing downstream—gradually fills channels and harbors

Key Findings of Marine Sand Watch Platform:

Developed by: GRID-Geneva, a Centre for Analytics within the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).Estimation of Sand Dredging: Between four and eight billion tonnes of sand are being dredeged from the ocean floor every year.
Sand Turbidity: The extraction of sand increases the turbidity of water.
- It changes nutrient availability and causes noise pollution, thus affecting marine organisms greatly.

Benthic organisms:

Benthic organisms live on or just beneath the bottom of the lagoon or in the intertidal zone (mainly mudflats).
- For Example: Sea anemones, Sponges
They are important links in the estuarine food chains, providing an important food source for fishes, birds, and mammals.

Impact on Living Organism: Not just benthic organisms, people living in coastal communities will also be severely affected by this magnitude of sand dredging. Salinisation of Aquifers: Coastal or near-shore extraction can affect the salinisation of aquifers and future tourist development.
Ban on Marine Sand Export: Some countries — including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia — have banned marine sand export in the last 20 years.

News Source: Down to Earth