Qatar4Ever
November 8th, 2004, 10:39 AM
Sand dredging 'threatens Bahrain eco-system'
Posted: Friday, November 05, 2004
Manama
Bahrain needs to introduce stricter rules on dredging sand from the seabed, according to an award-winning environment report.
It says current policies threaten to destroy marine wildlife, including entire ecosystems, if no action is taken.
Around 2.5 million tonnes of sand is taken from Bahrain's waters every year for use in construction and land reclamation.
However, the study concluded that around seven per cent is discharged back into the sea as mud - a mixture of fine sand, silt and clay - which blocks out sunlight and is harmful to marine life.
It recommends that Bahrain should import more sand from neighbouring countries instead of relying on its limited resources on the seabed.
"Because of the limitations of land area and mineral resources in Bahrain, the construction sector faces the problem of availability of adequate sources of sand," said Dr Asma'a Aba Hussain, who co-authored the report.
"This problem has been solved by dredging marine sand from Bahrain's shallow regional waters, not only to satisfy the increasing demand of the construction sector, but also to provide the requirements of reclamation operations in the shallow coastal areas, building of new ports and causeways."
The study is called Environmental Impacts of Marine Sand Mining in Bahrain and was compiled by Dr Aba Hussain, Dr Anwar Shaikhaldeen and Nadir Abdulhameed.
They are all faculty members at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) and their study has won the Saudi Arabia Award for Environment Management.
It focuses on Tubli Bay, which has more than halved in size since 1956 due to alterations to the coastline.
Over the past 48 years it has gone from measuring 24 sq km in size to just 10 sq km today.
Tubli Bay, located near the northeast corner of the island, supports the last remaining mangroves in Bahrain, is an important nursery ground for commercially important shrimps and over 45 species of birds utilise the abundant food resources.
The researchers set out to monitor and determine the problems associated with dredging of marine sand, particularly in this area.
"The analysis of the data and environmental indicators show that mining of marine sand for economic development in Bahrain leads to degradation of the fragile marine systems," said Dr Aba Hussain.
"This is because of a discharge of mud (fine sand, silt and clay) that constituted about seven pc of the total dredged marine sand to the water column of the marine environment - particularly at Tubli Bay, where five main sand washing factories are located at its southern coast."
The study proposed new locations for the factories outside Tubli Bay, which would be selected using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques.
It also calls for the introduction of cleaner production techniques and alternatives that have less impact on the marine ecosystems - such as encouraging imports of construction sand from neighbouring countries.
"The study also emphasises the significance of undertaking detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) of mining projects before and during extraction," said Dr Abu Hussain.
"These must include operations that are planned in environmentally sensitive areas, such as shallow coastal ecosystems."
The study also highlights the significance of monitoring mining operations and changing policies that lead to the degradation of ecosystems.
The research team, which was assisted by Ali Al Hassabi, will be presented with their award and a BD4,000 cash prize at a ceremony next month.
It is being held on the sidelines of the Arab Environment Management Conference, which is taking place at Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt, on November 25.
Out of 71 studies from 12 Arab countries, four winners were chosen in environment, residential area development, water treatment and environment awareness.-TradeArabia News Service
Posted: Friday, November 05, 2004
Manama
Bahrain needs to introduce stricter rules on dredging sand from the seabed, according to an award-winning environment report.
It says current policies threaten to destroy marine wildlife, including entire ecosystems, if no action is taken.
Around 2.5 million tonnes of sand is taken from Bahrain's waters every year for use in construction and land reclamation.
However, the study concluded that around seven per cent is discharged back into the sea as mud - a mixture of fine sand, silt and clay - which blocks out sunlight and is harmful to marine life.
It recommends that Bahrain should import more sand from neighbouring countries instead of relying on its limited resources on the seabed.
"Because of the limitations of land area and mineral resources in Bahrain, the construction sector faces the problem of availability of adequate sources of sand," said Dr Asma'a Aba Hussain, who co-authored the report.
"This problem has been solved by dredging marine sand from Bahrain's shallow regional waters, not only to satisfy the increasing demand of the construction sector, but also to provide the requirements of reclamation operations in the shallow coastal areas, building of new ports and causeways."
The study is called Environmental Impacts of Marine Sand Mining in Bahrain and was compiled by Dr Aba Hussain, Dr Anwar Shaikhaldeen and Nadir Abdulhameed.
They are all faculty members at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) and their study has won the Saudi Arabia Award for Environment Management.
It focuses on Tubli Bay, which has more than halved in size since 1956 due to alterations to the coastline.
Over the past 48 years it has gone from measuring 24 sq km in size to just 10 sq km today.
Tubli Bay, located near the northeast corner of the island, supports the last remaining mangroves in Bahrain, is an important nursery ground for commercially important shrimps and over 45 species of birds utilise the abundant food resources.
The researchers set out to monitor and determine the problems associated with dredging of marine sand, particularly in this area.
"The analysis of the data and environmental indicators show that mining of marine sand for economic development in Bahrain leads to degradation of the fragile marine systems," said Dr Aba Hussain.
"This is because of a discharge of mud (fine sand, silt and clay) that constituted about seven pc of the total dredged marine sand to the water column of the marine environment - particularly at Tubli Bay, where five main sand washing factories are located at its southern coast."
The study proposed new locations for the factories outside Tubli Bay, which would be selected using geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques.
It also calls for the introduction of cleaner production techniques and alternatives that have less impact on the marine ecosystems - such as encouraging imports of construction sand from neighbouring countries.
"The study also emphasises the significance of undertaking detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) of mining projects before and during extraction," said Dr Abu Hussain.
"These must include operations that are planned in environmentally sensitive areas, such as shallow coastal ecosystems."
The study also highlights the significance of monitoring mining operations and changing policies that lead to the degradation of ecosystems.
The research team, which was assisted by Ali Al Hassabi, will be presented with their award and a BD4,000 cash prize at a ceremony next month.
It is being held on the sidelines of the Arab Environment Management Conference, which is taking place at Sharm Al Sheikh, Egypt, on November 25.
Out of 71 studies from 12 Arab countries, four winners were chosen in environment, residential area development, water treatment and environment awareness.-TradeArabia News Service