In a concerning revelation, the marine dredging industry is extracting a staggering six billion tons of sand annually, equivalent to over 1 million dump trucks’ worth per day. This massive extraction of sands and other sediments is exerting tremendous pressure on marine life and ecosystems, with far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and coastal communities.
Introducing the groundbreaking data platform, Marine Sand Watch, developed by GRID-Geneva, a Centre for Analytics under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). This platform is designed to track and monitor sand, clay, silt, gravel, and rock extraction in marine environments worldwide. Hotspots like the North Sea, South East Asia, and the East Coast of the United States are closely monitored. Utilizing Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals from vessels and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the platform accurately identifies dredging activities.
INNOVATIVE SOLUTION: INTRODUCING MARINE SAND WATCH
Marine Sand Watch offers valuable insights into sand extraction, including sand concessions, capital and maintenance dredging areas, sand trading ports, vessel counts, and extraction activities within Exclusive Economic Zones. It’s important to note that the platform currently cannot detect artisanal and small-scale mining along shallow coastlines, despite its significance in certain regions.
SANDS: TRENDS IN MARINE DREDGING ACTIVITIES
The data provided by Marine Sand Watch estimates that between 4 and 8 billion tons of sand and sediments are dredged each year in marine and coastal environments. Disturbingly, the analysis of data from 2012 to 2019 reveals a growing trend in dredging activities. The world is rapidly approaching the natural replenishment rate of 10 to 16 billion tons per year, crucial for maintaining the structure and function of coastal and marine ecosystems. This is particularly alarming in regions where dredging intensity already far exceeds the sediment budget from land to sea.
SHALLOW SEA MINING: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Shallow sea mining for sand and gravel plays a pivotal role in various construction projects. However, it poses a significant threat to coastal communities, especially in the face of rising sea levels and more frequent storms. Marine sand is essential for constructing coastal defenses and supporting offshore energy infrastructure like wind and wave turbines. The extraction process puts coastal and seabed ecosystems at risk, affecting marine biodiversity through water turbidity, changes in nutrient availability, and noise pollution. Additionally, it can impact aquifer salinization and future tourist development.
SANDS; A PATCHWORK OF RULES
International practices and regulations on marine sand extraction vary widely. Some countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, have banned marine sand exports in the last two decades. However, others lack effective legislation and monitoring programs.
In its 2022 Sand and Sustainability report, UNEP calls for enhanced monitoring of sand extraction and usage. The report recommends halting sand extraction on beaches and active beach-near shore sand systems for mining purposes and establishing international standards for sand extraction in marine environments.
Pascal Peduzzi, Director of GRID-Geneva at UNEP, emphasizes the alarming environmental impacts of shallow sea mining and dredging on biodiversity, water quality, and marine mammals. He urges all stakeholders, Member States, and the dredging sector to recognize sand as a strategic resource and engage in discussions to improve dredging standards worldwide.
SANDS; URGENT CALL FOR COLLABORATION
UNEP/GRID-Geneva’s future plans include refining the data platform and developing a new version for near-real-time monitoring, aiming to achieve close to 100% detection of dredging vessels and better differentiation between vessel classes and related activities.
This initiative is supported by the University of Geneva, with funding from the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment. It builds on research collaboration with partners such as Global Fishing Watch and the University of California Santa Barbara.
The work undertaken by UNEP/GRID-Geneva aligns with a UN Environment Assembly resolution to enhance scientific, technical, and policy knowledge regarding sand, and to promote global policies and actions for its environmentally sound extraction and use.
