Dutch Dredging Companies Under Fire for Environmental Impact

MV+ News Desk | March 26, 2024

An international research has uncovered damning evidence suggesting that Dutch dredging companies are wreaking havoc on both human lives and the environment across the globe, including Gulhifalhu Port Project in the Maldives.

The research report, released yesterday, urges the Dutch government to halt its support for three ongoing projects immediately, citing irreparable damage to ecosystems and communities.

Among the projects under scrutiny is the Gulhifalhu Port Project, slated to encroach upon a marine protected area established by Maldivian law in 1995. The report highlights a pattern of devastation perpetrated by Dutch dredging firms, Boskalis and Van Oord, with taxpayers’ money often footing the bill.

The Netherlands has allocated billions of euros to support dredging initiatives worldwide, yet the consequences have been dire. Fishing communities in Mozambique find themselves displaced, pushed inland by dredging activities amid a backdrop of escalating violence. Similarly, in the Maldives, the coral reef system, a vital natural barrier and source of sustenance, faces decimation due to dredging operations.

Partners involved in the study have expressed grave concerns over the ecological and social fallout. Julio Ernesto of Mozambique’s farmers’ union, UPC, laments the plight of displaced fishers and farmers, while Humay Abdulghafoor of the Save Maldives Campaign condemns the destruction of coral reefs. In Indonesia, Martin Hadiwinata of EKOMARIN raises alarm over ecosystem damage and the marginalization of traditional fishers, sentiments echoed by Simone Lourenço of Forum Suape in Brazil, who emphasizes the threat to food security.

Central to the issue is the Dutch government’s support for dredging projects through export credit insurance provided by Atradius DSB. Over the past twelve years, a staggering €8.4 billion has been funnelled to Boskalis and Van Oord, despite mounting evidence of adverse impacts. Concerns have been raised regarding the efficacy of oversight, with instances of inadequate risk assessment, notably in Mozambique, where security concerns were downplayed.

Critics argue that Dutch support for these projects runs counter to international standards on corporate social responsibility, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. They urge the government to align its export policy with commitments to uphold human rights and environmental protection.

In response to the findings, civil society organizations are demanding an immediate cessation of support for ongoing projects in Mozambique, the Philippines, and the Maldives. The call for action underscores the urgent need for a reassessment of Dutch policies governing the dredging sector, with a view to mitigating its adverse impacts on a global scale.

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