Daily Current Affairs : 6-September-2023
The world’s oceans, a vast and intricate ecosystem, are facing a silent threat – the relentless extraction of sand from their floors. According to Marine Sand Watch, a data platform developed by GRID-Geneva, a Centre for Analytics within the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), around six billion tonnes of sand are being extracted annually from ocean floors, causing irreparable damage to benthic life. In this essay, we will delve into the implications of this alarming practice and explore potential solutions.
The Role of Marine Sand Watch
Marine Sand Watch is a crucial tool in understanding the scale of this issue. This platform is designed to track and monitor dredging activities, not limited to sand but also encompassing clay, silt, gravel, and rock, in marine environments worldwide. It focuses on hotspots like the North Sea, Southeast Asia, and the East Coast of the United States. Marine Sand Watch’s data estimates that between four and eight billion tonnes of sand are extracted from the ocean floor each year. Even more concerning is the projection that this number could rise to 10 to 16 billion tonnes annually, exceeding the natural replenishment rate required to maintain coastal and marine ecosystem structure and function.
Impacts of Marine Sand Extraction
The extraction of sand from ocean floors brings about a cascade of environmental consequences:
- Increased Turbidity: Sand extraction muddies the waters, increasing turbidity. This reduced water clarity disrupts light penetration, affecting photosynthesis and marine organisms that depend on it.
- Nutrient Alteration: Changes in nutrient availability occur due to sand extraction, impacting the entire marine food chain. This can lead to reduced fish populations and imbalances in marine ecosystems.
- Noise Pollution: The dredging process generates noise pollution that can disrupt the behavior of marine creatures, including whales and dolphins, which rely on sound for communication and navigation.
- Coastal Communities: Sand extraction isn’t limited to its impact on marine life; coastal communities are also at risk. Shallow sea mining for sand and gravel threatens these communities, especially in the face of rising sea levels and more frequent storms.
- Aquifer Salinization: Coastal or near-shore extraction can affect underground aquifers, leading to the salinization of freshwater sources, which are essential for both people and agriculture.
- Tourism: The extraction of sand can hinder future tourist development, as it alters the natural beauty of coastlines and beaches.
The Way Ahead
Addressing the crisis of marine sand extraction requires concerted efforts and international cooperation:
- Legislation and Monitoring: Some countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia have already taken steps by banning marine sand export in the last two decades. However, others lack legislation and effective monitoring programs. Encouraging more nations to adopt similar measures is crucial.
- UNEP Recommendations: The UNEP has already recognized the urgency of this issue in its 2022 Sand and Sustainability report. Implementing its recommendations, including halting sand extraction on beaches and establishing international standards for marine sand extraction, is vital to curbing this crisis.
Important Points:
The Scale of Extraction:
- Around six billion tonnes of sand are extracted annually from the ocean floor.
- Marine Sand Watch, a UN data platform, tracks and monitors sand extraction globally.
- The extraction could rise to 10 to 16 billion tonnes annually, surpassing natural replenishment rates.
Impacts of Marine Sand Extraction:
- Increased water turbidity, affecting marine organisms and ecosystems.
- Nutrient alterations disrupt marine food chains.
- Noise pollution harms marine creatures, including whales and dolphins.
- Coastal communities face threats from shallow sea mining, sea-level rise, and storms.
- Aquifer salinization and hindrance to future tourism development are also concerns.
The Way Forward:
- Some countries have banned marine sand exports, while others lack legislation and monitoring.
- The UNEP recommends halting sand extraction on beaches and establishing international standards.
Why In News
According to Marine Sand Watch, an alarming six billion tonnes of sand are relentlessly extracted each year from the ocean’s depths, inflicting irreversible harm upon benthic ecosystems. This relentless depletion underscores the urgent need for sustainable practices to safeguard our marine environments.
MCQs about The Urgent Crisis of Marine Sand Extraction
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What is the primary focus of Marine Sand Watch?
A. Coral reefs
B. Marine pollution
C. Sand extraction
D. Climate change
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What are some of the environmental impacts of marine sand extraction ?
A. Increased water temperature and beach erosion
B. Noise pollution and reduced fish populations
C. Increased biodiversity and improved water quality
D. Enhanced coral reef growth and reduced sea-level rise
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What does the UNEP recommend in its efforts to address the crisis of marine sand extraction?
A. Increasing sand extraction on beaches
B. Establishing international standards for sand extraction
C. Banning sand extraction in all coastal regions
D. Promoting tourism development near extraction sites
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