Posted on January 14, 2026
Dear EarthTalk: “What is ‘sand mining’ and why is it bad for the environment?” — O.H., via email
Sand mining, extracting sand from the earth, is the second most widespread human activity in marine environments, after fishing. Sand and gravel are the most extracted materials across the globe. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the dredging industry removes six million tons of sand from marine settings around the world each year.
