Sinking shores and rising concerns: the environmental fallout of sea sand mining
Urbanisation is one of the contemporary era’s defining trends, with urban populations previously comprising 29% of the world’s inhabitants in 1950, as compared to 56% today and a predicted 70% by 2045. The astounding influx of populations into urban areas is accompanied by large-scale construction projects for infrastructure, industrial, commercial, and residential developments, which raises environmental concerns at various levels. One concern pertains to the large amounts of sand needed as a key ingredient of concrete and asphalt. In 2021, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Germany were the largest net exporters of sand, while China, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and Italy were the largest net importers, driven by high rates of urban construction and land reclamation.
The high demand for abundant and easily accessible sand has prompted the need for sea sand mining, which involves the extraction of sand from ocean floors. However, this increasingly prevalent practice brings significant correlated environmental issues and ecological disruption. Extraction activities disturb the delicate balance of marine habitats, destroying coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other essential marine organisms. These ecosystems play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, providing food sources, and protecting coastal areas from erosion and storm surges. The destruction of these habitats can lead to the loss of species, damage to coastal areas, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. Alongside habitat destruction, sea sand mining also contributes to climate change, in that the extraction process releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, mainly through the use of heavy machinery and transportation. Additionally, the removal of sand from coastal areas can disrupt the natural sediment flow, altering coastal dynamics and increasing the risk of erosion and flooding. These changes have huge implications for the stability of coastal ecosystems, the livelihoods of coastal communities, and the overall resilience of coastal regions in the face of climate change impacts.
Recognising the detrimental effects of sea sand mining, Indonesia banned exports of sea sand in 2003 and consolidated the ban in 2007 with regulations against illegal shipments. Prior to the ban, Indonesia was Singapore’s main supplier of sea sand for land reclamation, shipping more than 53 million tonnes on average per year between 1997 to 2002. Sand mining, coupled with persistently rising sea levels, had caused several islands in the Thousand Islands regency – located north of Jakarta – and the Riau Islands to sink underwater.
However, in late May, Indonesia lifted the ban in desperate hopes of attracting economic benefits to the country. This move comes a few years after Malaysia banned sea sand exports in late 2019, which complicated Singapore’s ambitious land reclamation plans. After Indonesia’s 2003 ban, Singapore turned to Malaysia to import sand, which by 2021 comprised nearly 63% of Singapore’s sand imports. For this reason, Malaysia’s recent ban gave Indonesia a window of opportunity to reattract revenue from sand exports to the region, especially to supplement Singapore’s expansion plans. Mining permit holders are now permitted to collect and export sea sand, provided that domestic demands have been met. Environmentalists, including Indonesia’s former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Susi Pudjiastuti, have condemned the reversal of the sea sand mining ban. Greenpeace Southeast Asia labelled the move as ‘greenwashing’, inasmuch as the Indonesian government claims their decision will aid in improved sustainable marine resource management and control sea sedimentation; yet, activists believe the new regulation will only ‘further enrich oligarchs’ and ‘increase state income from the fisheries sector’. This is especially true insofar as the potential for food scarcity, as sea sand mining will erode coastal communities’ primary source of sustenance – the sea – while prioritising commercial exploitation and extraction of marine resources.
Addressing the negative impacts of sea sand mining requires a comprehensive approach to sustainable urbanisation, industrial practices, and environmental management. This includes promoting alternative construction materials, implementing stricter regulations on sand extraction, and investing in research and innovation for sustainable infrastructure development. Additionally, it is crucial to raise awareness among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public about the environmental consequences of sea sand mining and the importance of adopting environmentally responsible practices.
Image rights: "Sand Extraction at Cliffe Fort" by Shiro Kazan