Marine reclamation as the important utilization manner Essay

Marine reclamation is the important utilization manner of water for mankind and it is also an essential to produce new things and to offer living space for people, (Ge Yu & Jun-yan, 2011). According to OSPAR Commission (2010), construction of reclamation project can bring some impacts on the marine environment. It can cause changes to the physical nature of the seabed and loss of coastal habitats. Besides, it may effect to erosion, sedimentation and physical and chemical disturbance of ecosystems. There may be more underwater noise, water and air pollution during the reclamation process. Because of that, visual or noise disturbance can be affected by foraging or breeding seabirds and marine mammals.
According to Mostafa (2012) stated that dredging and disposal process are the potential effects of dredging that can cause impacts to the marine environment. Dredging material may cause suspended solids. It will effect to the substratum disturbance. Besides, overflow from leakage from pipelines may happen during transport between dredged and disposal sites. Erftemeijer & Lewis (2006) mentioned that water transparency can be temporary decrease, concentrations in suspended matter and sedimentation rate will be increased are caused by the dredging.
The range of effects are mainly happening in the coastal and nearby shore region, the delicate ecosystems and sediment balance may exist that cause by mudflats, mangrove, etc. For example, in Penang, there is 970 000 m2 Tanjung Tokong land reclamation project for mixed development use with an approximated fill material of 4,000,000 m3, (Eik & Liew, 2014).
There have some impacts on the natural marine and its ecosystem due to increasing area of land reclamation. Priyandes & Majid (2009) stated that reclamation activities may cause environment in the flora and fauna changed. For instances coastal morphology, mangrove and coral reefs.
Coastal morphology refers to the basis and progress of coastal structures. It also state as geomorphology of the coast. Zhu et al. (2014) mentioned that land reclamation straightly changes the local coastal morphology that effect to possible ecological consequences.
According to the Foster et al. (2007) stated that mangrove can be a review to the extent of suspended sediment loads that may be created from the activities of dredging and reclamation. Thampanya et al. (2002) mentioned that pneumatophore root systems are one of the mangrove species that are most delicate to sedimentation. It also probably to be tense when sedimentation reach points from 10 to 30cm.
Moreover, Nadzir et al. (2014) stated that mangrove and estuarine environments are recognized as important areas for a variety of fish. The loss of natural habitat due to reclamation activities can effect on fish catch and disturb of its food chain.
Coral reefs can be delicate to sedimentation are determined by the particle-trapping of the group and the capability of specific polyps to discard settled materials, (Foster et al., 2007). In addition, corals reef also becomes a habitat for marine species. The part where the coral reef placed is to be reclaimed, can be extra cost effective, (Nadzir et al., 2014).