Coral reefs fall victim to tin dredgers

Tin has been mined on Bangka for a very long time. It has been fairly easy to extract tin ore on the island by digging holes and rinsing the fragments of ore from the sand. The demand for tin has risen sharply in recent years due to the increase in production of cans and tin for solder. Thus, tin production has also become larger-scale. The result of this rise is that water used for rinsing has also increased the pollution of rivers and fish stocks have decreased.

From toxic tin mining pits to the destruction of coral reefs
The tin ore on the mainland is now becoming depleted. The PT Timah company, which produces tin on a large scale, has therefore resorted to mining in the sea surrounding the island. Large dredging ships suck the sand up, filtering out the ore. Local people follow their example. Fishers have switched over to tin dredging, attracted by high profits, as well as because tin mining has sharply reduced their catches.

The coral reefs normally brim with life and serve as breeding grounds for fish in the vicinity of Bangka. The destruction of the coral reefs is the principal reason for the disappearance of fish. The dredging ships bury the reefs in sand that they churn up during the dredging. The sand destroys the coral, causing the death of this unique ecosystem.

Both environment and people are victims
Tin mining is a threat to local people. It is associated with health risks and has a great influence on the main source of income – fishing. Local people are caught in a trap of poverty, water pollution and overfishing of the fish which remain despite the destruction of the reefs. A sustainable future for Bangka is only possible if the island’s government and the government-sponsored company PT Timah constrain tin mining.

What does Milieudefensie want?
Milieudefensie [Friends of the Earth Netherlands] wants the local government to formulate regulations to guarantee a sustainable future for Bangka. Government should focus on tourist development to make Bangka less dependent on tin mining.

To start, dredging must be reduced by 50 per cent, until a system is put in place which can ensure a fair balance between the protection of nature, fishing and tin mining. Until that time, local government should not be allowed to issue any new mining permits. Milieudefensie also wants to see investments made in new dredging techniques that do less damage to ecosystems surrounding the fragile coral reefs.

Legislation can create a level playing field for business. Step by step, the path can be cleared for responsible extraction of raw materials and sustainable development on Bangka.

Writing helps!
Milieudefensie has approached tin purchasers. Major corporations such as Philips and Corus say they don’t buy any tin from Indonesia, or they do not know precisely where the tin in their products comes from. The international association of tin users has spoken to the Indonesian government. However, they report that there has been little response. Thus, more direct pressure on the Indonesian government is necessary.

Write with Earth Alarm
Problems accompanying mineral extraction in the Indonesian archipelago are increasing. International pressure for better environmental regulations is badly needed! Therefore, send an Earth Alarm letter to the Indonesian ambassador. Let him know that you want the tin extraction at sea to be restricted until new, sustainable dredging techniques are in place. The local government must make Bangka less dependent on tin and place more emphasis on tourism. In this way they can prevent further damage to the coral reefs and their ecosystems.