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.

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. The study proposed new locations for the factories outside Tubli Bay, which would be selected using GIS and remote sensing techniques.

The research team, which was assisted by Ali Al Hassabi, will be presented with their award and a cash prize at a ceremony 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.

Source : http://www.gulf-daily-news.com