244
13.4.2.2
Coastal Erosion
R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
In Maldives, the islands are continuously exposed to processes of accretion and erosion. Vulnerability to erosion is high, due to several factors - loss of sources of sand,
increased exposure to wave action due to coral mining and changes in nearshore current patterns either due to natural causes or man-made changes, such as construction
of coastal infrastructure.
13.4.2.3
Dredging and Land Reclamation
Dredging associated with harbour deepening, land reclamation and mining for construction material, is damaging to the marine ecosystem. It disturbs the bottom substrata and benthic resources and results in turbidity due to suspended sedimentation,
increased nutrient level in the water column and reduction in dissolved oxygen. Consequently, fish growth and productivity are affected. Moreover, land reclamation, to
increase the habitable land area of densely populated islands, increases the susceptibility of the islands to flooding.
13.4.2.4
Sewage and Solid Waste Disposal
The dumping of sewage and solid wastes in the more densely populated islands,
has the potential of leading to problems of marine pollution, nutrient enrichment
and deoxygenation. It can also lead to siltation, the smothering of corals and reduced availability of reef fishes. However, pollution by sewage and solid waste disposal remains a minor localized problem with negligible effects on reef-associated
fisheries.
Some of the environmental hazards associated with sewage disposal into the sea are:
• Inadequate sewage dispersion at outfall sites may result in eutrophication of the water,
leading to local coral death and local reduction in fish biomass and biodiversity.
• As bacterial decomposition of sewage occurs, oxygen is depleted from the water.
Coral growth requires very high levels of oxygen in water and suffocate at low oxygen levels.
• Sewage covers coral with fine silt, which most often results in the death of the coral
colony.
• Microbial agents from sewage discharged into the sea can affect human health as a
consequence of sea bathing, ingestion of contaminated sea water or consumption
of contaminated sea food.
Pollution caused by sewage and solid waste disposal, as well as by other means is
still a major localized problem. One factor that prevents nutrient accumulation and
hence heavy pollution is the dynamic open water around the island. Nutrients which
tend to accumulate around heavily-populated islands are disposed of in the open sea
by water currents and wave action.
13.4.2.2
Coastal Erosion
R. Ramesh . S. Ramachandran
In Maldives, the islands are continuously exposed to processes of accretion and erosion. Vulnerability to erosion is high, due to several factors - loss of sources of sand,
increased exposure to wave action due to coral mining and changes in nearshore current patterns either due to natural causes or man-made changes, such as construction
of coastal infrastructure.
13.4.2.3
Dredging and Land Reclamation
Dredging associated with harbour deepening, land reclamation and mining for construction material, is damaging to the marine ecosystem. It disturbs the bottom substrata and benthic resources and results in turbidity due to suspended sedimentation,
increased nutrient level in the water column and reduction in dissolved oxygen. Consequently, fish growth and productivity are affected. Moreover, land reclamation, to
increase the habitable land area of densely populated islands, increases the susceptibility of the islands to flooding.
13.4.2.4
Sewage and Solid Waste Disposal
The dumping of sewage and solid wastes in the more densely populated islands,
has the potential of leading to problems of marine pollution, nutrient enrichment
and deoxygenation. It can also lead to siltation, the smothering of corals and reduced availability of reef fishes. However, pollution by sewage and solid waste disposal remains a minor localized problem with negligible effects on reef-associated
fisheries.
Some of the environmental hazards associated with sewage disposal into the sea are:
• Inadequate sewage dispersion at outfall sites may result in eutrophication of the water,
leading to local coral death and local reduction in fish biomass and biodiversity.
• As bacterial decomposition of sewage occurs, oxygen is depleted from the water.
Coral growth requires very high levels of oxygen in water and suffocate at low oxygen levels.
• Sewage covers coral with fine silt, which most often results in the death of the coral
colony.
• Microbial agents from sewage discharged into the sea can affect human health as a
consequence of sea bathing, ingestion of contaminated sea water or consumption
of contaminated sea food.
Pollution caused by sewage and solid waste disposal, as well as by other means is
still a major localized problem. One factor that prevents nutrient accumulation and
hence heavy pollution is the dynamic open water around the island. Nutrients which
tend to accumulate around heavily-populated islands are disposed of in the open sea
by water currents and wave action.