What are Groynes?

About Groynes: 

• These are active structure extending from the shore into the sea, most often perpendicular or slightly oblique to the shoreline. 
• They’re usually made of wood, rock, or sometimes concrete and metal. 
• They are designed to trap sediment, dissipate wave energy and restrict the transfer of sediment away from the beach through long shore drift.
  • Longshore drift is caused when prevailing winds blow waves across the shore at an angle which carries sediment along the beach. Groynes prevent this process and therefore slow the process of erosion at the shore.
• Advantages
  • Groynes are easy to construct. They have long term durability and are low maintenance.
  • They reduce the need for the beach to be maintained through beach nourishment and the recycling of sand.
  • It traps sediment, leading to beach widening, reduced erosion and greater wave energy dissipation.
  • It serves as a robust structure (if designed and maintained properly) that can be used for long-term stabilization of coastlines used for societal activities.

Q1: What is an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?

It is, as defined under UNCLOS, is an area of the ocean extending up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) immediately offshore from a country’s land coast in which that country retains exclusive rights to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources.

Source: Irrigation dept to construct 8 groynes to curb coastal erosion

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