Thanks — Delfdust extraction at sea: sand — ecotopes

The map shows sediment composition of the seabed and the reservation areas for sand and gravel on the Dutch Continental Plate (NCP). This card consists of three different layers: a) Search areas B) Winning areas C) Ecotopenkaart For the Netherlands, sand and gravel are important natural resources. For the Netherlands, sand as a supplementation sand is indispensable for the protection of its coast and hinterland. In addition, it is an important building material for infrastructural works (especially as high sand) and to a smaller extent also raw material for industrial purposes (industrial sand). The Decree on Soil Minerals foresees that land extraction should be avoided as far as possible due to space sheds, so that more and more sand is extracted at sea. Both for economic growth and climate change and rising sea levels, the demand for this natural resource is expected to increase. Due to differences in the composition is not all the sea sand is suitable for all purposes. The collection and reservation are regulated by law and reservation areas are marked on the NCP. However, with increasing demand, the concern for the impact on the environment is also increasing.