Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group

Mining Research Databanking Template

Title of Research Study: / Possible Impacts of Offshore Magnetite Sand Mining in San Miguel Bay
Lead Research Institute : / Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research, Ateneo de Naga University
Principal Investigators: / Dr. Emelina G. Regis
Source of Funding Support:
Period Covered for the Study: / October 2010
Over-all Objective/s of the Study: / This paper aims to provide information regarding this kind of mining to all those that may be affected by the offshore exploration if given approval by the MGB and DENR. Such information hopes to strengthen the position of the local government of “no exploration” to the proponent mining company.
Research Methodologies Employed: / Survey / In-depth Interview Focus Group Discussion Others______
·  Physico-chemical Parameters
Unit and Local of the Study: / San Miguel Bay
Findings and Recommendations
Significant Findings / Recommendations or Implications
The reasons for the opposition to the offshore mining in San Miguel Bay are as follows:
·  It is a major fishing ground of several coastal barangays of the municipalities along its coast. The number of coastal barangays that will directly be affected is 15 in Tinamabac, 10 in calabanga, 6 in Cabusao, 5 in Sipocot and 2 in Basud or a total of 38 barangays.
·  It is also a spawning and nursery ground for various kinds of fishes. Fishermen in the 38 barangays are dependent on this bay for their domestic needs and livelihood.
·  The concerned municipalitie have mangrove plantations. Aside from mangrove, Tinambac has set-up a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) for the sustainability of fishery resource of its municipality. Cabusao has a Bird Sanctuary which is sustained by fishes that thrive in its mangrove area.
·  Offshore mining work for two (2) years can already disturb near-shore environment, navigation channels, fishing and breeding grounds, flora and fauna. The process will disturb the upper layers of the substrate with deposits of sand, silt and clay (Valsangkar and Fernandes, 2009). Since silt and clay consist of small and light weight particales, these materials will be dispersed and remobilized in the upper layer of water and distributed in a wider area. / Disturbance to San Miguel Bay through offshore exploration will affect young fishes, including their spawning and nursery grounds. It will also affect the mature ones that have settled in the area as their habitat. If offshore mining is allowed to proceed, the next problems that will possible follow are various impacts in the marine and coastal environments. These are:
·  Offshore mining of magnetite sand increases vulnerability to floods. Magnetite, being a very dense mineral which is heavy, is able to hold sand particles together since magnetite is usually strongly magnetic. When removed by mining, sand cannot be held together, making the sand easily eroded. This process was experienced in Bauang, La Union, Philippines (Kaduami,Inc.http://kauami.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/magnetite-mining). In the coastal areas, constant wave action facilitated erosion, removing materials from the beach, then allowing seawater to advance landward and causing floods. A report by PAGASA (2002, in Berdin at al. 2004), higher storm surges ranging from 3 to 10 meters high were experienced during stormy weather.
·  There will be loss of livelihood in fishing. Diaz et al. (2004) showed a scenario of potential impacts to the benthic (those living at the bottom sediment) communities which will acutely be impacted especially the mobile species that could be displaced.
·  Loss of farmland near the coastal areas due to flooding will result from coastal erosion. In a study by Kelly at al. (2004), if an offshore sediment is mined, the physical effects may alter local shoreline due to change in the behaviour of incident wave field and associated sediment transport regime as a result of erosion and stronger and higher wave action.
·  Environmental impacts of sand and gravel mining also include a) excavation that kills some endangered species, and b) impairment or destruction of habitat specific to certain species (Brynes et al. 2000).
It must be noted also that even if the application is exploration only, the damage is still significant because San Miguel Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water. If the findings of the exploration are viable, mining will proceed even if the place is a major fishing ground for the fishermen of 38 barangays because the company was given an opportunity to find out. This is the reason why at this early, exploration must not be allowed in San Miguel Bay.
Submitted by: / INECAR, Ateneo de Naga University
Date Submitted: / April 20, 2015
Contact Details of the Research Institute: / / (054) 473-8447 loc. 2217