8
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
Mining operations in the coastal zone could, and in spots already, include coal
(extracted underneath the sea-floor since the sixteenth century), petroleum,
natural gas, sulphur, tin, sand and gravel .... The economic importance of sand,
gravel and coquina has steadily increased due to the demand for building
materials where land supplies are depleted or in short supply, (Charlier
1990,1992) 7 . Mining must be carefully monitored since it may severely alter
benthic life on the seabed, while equilibrium may be endangered. Gravel
extraction is more problematic than sand extraction, because layers of 10-50 m
thickness frequently overlie the gravels. Sea-shell deposits (often exploited for
cement) are an important source of calcium ; they can be abundant in bays,
lagoons and estuaries.
Nearshore mining of sand or other minerals can disrupt beach stability and
endanger barrier islands accelerating erosion processes by removing the sand that
naturally replenishes beaches. The matter was examined several decades ago in
connection with operations along the coasts of Lebanon and Israel 8.
The removal treatment and tailings rejections of all such materials can seriously
influence the benthos, filterers, beach stability and water clarity.
Seawater itself is an important resource. Desalination costs remain high, and
such operations are economic only where water supplies on land are limited, as in
some petroleum-rich countries.
Relatively shallow continental shelves are the habitat of abundant biological
resources, allowing the exploitation of fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates.
Consumer fisheries share the markets with industrial fisheries used for animal
feed and food industries, ink, glue, and paint manufacture. Marine plants are
harvested. Coastal zone management needs to protect such economically sound
activities.
The currently modest exploitation of ocean energy is potentially expandable.
Small plants of regional or insular significance may replace or supplement those
burning costly fossil fuels, a heavy financial burden for non-petroleum producers.
R.H. Charlier and Chr. P. De Meyer
Mining operations in the coastal zone could, and in spots already, include coal
(extracted underneath the sea-floor since the sixteenth century), petroleum,
natural gas, sulphur, tin, sand and gravel .... The economic importance of sand,
gravel and coquina has steadily increased due to the demand for building
materials where land supplies are depleted or in short supply, (Charlier
1990,1992) 7 . Mining must be carefully monitored since it may severely alter
benthic life on the seabed, while equilibrium may be endangered. Gravel
extraction is more problematic than sand extraction, because layers of 10-50 m
thickness frequently overlie the gravels. Sea-shell deposits (often exploited for
cement) are an important source of calcium ; they can be abundant in bays,
lagoons and estuaries.
Nearshore mining of sand or other minerals can disrupt beach stability and
endanger barrier islands accelerating erosion processes by removing the sand that
naturally replenishes beaches. The matter was examined several decades ago in
connection with operations along the coasts of Lebanon and Israel 8.
The removal treatment and tailings rejections of all such materials can seriously
influence the benthos, filterers, beach stability and water clarity.
Seawater itself is an important resource. Desalination costs remain high, and
such operations are economic only where water supplies on land are limited, as in
some petroleum-rich countries.
Relatively shallow continental shelves are the habitat of abundant biological
resources, allowing the exploitation of fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates.
Consumer fisheries share the markets with industrial fisheries used for animal
feed and food industries, ink, glue, and paint manufacture. Marine plants are
harvested. Coastal zone management needs to protect such economically sound
activities.
The currently modest exploitation of ocean energy is potentially expandable.
Small plants of regional or insular significance may replace or supplement those
burning costly fossil fuels, a heavy financial burden for non-petroleum producers.