IMPACT OF OFFSHORE SAND MINING ON SANDY BEACH IN CORAL REEF ENVIRONMENT - CASE STUDY IN KINENHAMA BEACH, TOKUNOSHIMA ISLAND, JAPAN

Abstract

 Offshore sand minig for the construction and beach nourishment purposes has been conducted in subtropical and tropical islands in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures. Sand mining is usually conducted in an aeria deeper than the critical water depth for sediment movement. However, environmental concirns such as a cause of beach erosion might be expressed by local residents. Therefore, a case study on impact of offshore sand mining in coral environment on sandy beach erosion had been conducted in Kinenhama beach , Tokunoshima Island, Japan. The study shows little impact is caused on sandy beach due to the current offshore sand mining.