Thiruvananthapuram: Marine scientists are worried that the Centre’s plan to mine sand off Kerala’s coast could cause underwater churn, harming the ecosystem if implemented in its present form. Studies have already indicated that any impact on the seabed would lead to depleted fish stock. Despite protests against the plan, the Centre is moving ahead without addressing the concerns of the fisherfolk.

The National Critical Mineral Mission, published by the Union Ministry of Mines on January 29, is a blueprint for massive mining — both on land and sea — across the country. Private companies will mine marine sand off the Kerala coast for the first time in India.

Impact on marine ecosystem
A study conducted by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) at a depth of 30 to 70 meters between 2002 and 2006 revealed that any impact on the seabed would wipe out micro-organisms. The study, held with central assistance, pointed out that the impact would lead to chemical and physical changes in the marine ecosystem.

The churning of the seabed would deplete oxygen levels, affecting the fish stock. Sediments would be riled and would cloud water before settling down again. This would affect photosynthesis and impact marine food chain. It would drastically change the benthic zone (the lowest ecological zone in a water body) that provides nutrients for organisms that are fish food.

Studies held as part of an Indo-Norwegian project led to the discovery of the Quilon Bank (locally called Kollam Parappu), filled with abundant seafood species. A trawling held as part of the KUFOS study led to a catch of 10,000 kilograms of pink perch in an hour.

The region is also home to 16 shrimp varieties. Shrimp export began after the discovery of the Quilon Bank, teeming with fish varieties like false trevally, sardine, mackerel, white trevally, ribbon fish, and others.  

Any mining that churns the seabed affects not only the fish stock but also the sand banks on the shore, said Prof B Madhusoodhana Kurup, former vice-chancellor of KUFOS. It has been observed that even a minute change in the sea will affect the fish stock.

Sandbanks that prevent waves will gradually disappear. Professor Kurup warned that such places will experience massive coastal erosion.  

All member countries of the United Nations have signed an agreement to maintain 30 per cent of the ocean as a protected zone by 2030. However, the main accusation against the Centre is that it is opening up the sea for business, ignoring the UN agreement.

Operating mining vessels and the pollution they cause, too, will be detrimental to the fish stock. Marine scientist Dr Sunil Mohamed warned that mining the seabed without conducting an environmental impact assessment will hugely affect the sea's natural environment.

Against the tide
It is well known that Indonesia was the epicentre of the devastating Asian (Boxing Day) Tsunami that spread havoc along the Kollam and Alappuzha coasts. Indonesia banned marine mining after unbridled exploitation led to massive coastal erosion. Marine scientists in the country argued that submarine earthquakes were caused by mining.

The sea gobbled up vast expanses of the coastlines in Morocco, the Caribbean Islands, Queensland, and the Netherlands following massive marine mining. The tourism sector was immensely affected. Charles George, the state president of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi (United Forum of Fishermen in Kerala), said a similar crisis in varying measures was seen in island countries such as Nauru, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, and Kiribati, and countries such a Hungary, Norway and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.

Several countries have individually and jointly demanded a moratorium on deep-sea mining. France, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Switzerland, Mexico, and Peru, too, have raised the demand. Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), a network of lawmakers from various countries, have launched a campaign against deep-sea mining. Delegates who attended the UN Ocean Conference held in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022 formed a collective against deep-sea mining. Australia clamped stringent regulations on marine mining as well.

Ironically, even as the world is moving against marine mining, India is going ahead with its plan to mine marine sand from Kollam, where the Quilon Bank is located.

Who is responsible?
The state did not do much against the Centre's amendment to the Offshore Areas Mineral Development Act of 2002. Incidentally, the state's protest against marine mining was confined to shooting off a letter to the Centre. Compare it with the Tamil Nadu government's opposition and intervention against the Centre's planned tungsten mining near Madurai! The Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the mining, pointing out the biodiversity and historical importance of the region. Following the resistance, the Centre dropped the mining plan.

In Kerala, however, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government has not responded to a demand for the Assembly to pass a resolution against the Centre's move to open up the seabed for mining.

Scientists from the Geological Survey of India, who led the study that found massive deposits of sand off the Kerala coast, recommended special planning according to the region's peculiarities to minimise the impact of mining. To this end, an environmental impact assessment should be conducted for each block where mining is planned.

Further, mining should be prohibited during the fish breeding season and monsoon when trawling is banned. Marine scientists opined that special planning is inevitable since India has accepted the blue economy.