Sandutvinning och dess påverkan på Öresunds marina status

Sammanfattning: Unlike effects associated with eutrophication and marine plastics, few are aware of the negative environmental impacts sand dredging can have on marine ecosystems. Major habitat losses, changes in salinity and increased turbidity impose a potential threat to a large variety of marine and brackish species. Even worse is the fact that few people know that sand extraction currently is taking place within one of the world’s most unique marine environments, Öresund. Despite Sweden’s restrictive stance towards the ongoing operations within Öresund, sand extraction continues within Danish sea territory with permits being approved at an alarming rate. Each day vast amounts of sand is extracted from the seabed with dire direct consequences for marine ecosystems within the extraction site. However, the decline and disappearance of key species within Öresund suggests that the effects associated with sand extraction potentially could pose a direct threat to marine ecosystems all over the strait, including ecosystems found within the Swedish sea territory. This study examines whether the Swedish regulation of sand dredging operations could be considered to be effective, when it comes to the preservation of the many unique ecosystems within Öresund. The study is divided into two main parts where the first part consists of a literature analysis in which adverse environmental effects linked to sand extraction has been identified and analyzed. The second part focus on identifying and analyzing differences between the Swedish and Danish legislation and was conducted through a document review of laws concerning sand extraction.