Beach Protection Project in Maldives: A Case Study by Ocean Non Wovens

Ocean Non Wovens supplied and deployed 2,500 Ocean Non Woven Geobags-450 GSM for a beach protection project in the Maldives. The sand-filled bags were placed along an eroding shoreline to absorb wave action and hold the beach in place. The work ran over three months, planned with local environmental agencies.

Why Maldivian beaches erode

The Maldives is a chain of low-lying coral islands. Most of the land sits only a metre or so above sea level, and the islands are built from loose coral sand piled on reef platforms. Waves, storm surges and seasonal monsoon currents move that sand constantly, and past sand and coral mining removed some of the natural supply.

Rising sea level makes the problem worse: satellite records since 1993 put the average rate of global sea-level rise at about 3.3 mm per year, and every millimetre lets waves reach further up the beach. For island communities and resorts, losing beach means losing land, habitat and tourism income.

How geobags protect a beach

Geobags are large bags of permeable geotextile filled with sand, usually dug from the same site. Stacked along the shore as a revetment or low groyne, they take the force of breaking waves while letting water drain through the fabric, so pressure does not build up behind them. Because they flex and settle with the beach rather than cracking, and can be removed or re-filled, they are widely used on Maldivian islands where bringing in rock or concrete is costly.

Ocean Non Wovens’ Geobags-450 GSM offer:

1. Durability: made from high-strength polypropylene fibres with UV-resistant material, chosen to extend bag life in the tropical sun and salt water.
2. Lower environmental impact: filled with local sand rather than quarried rock or concrete, so the structure uses the beach’s own material.
3. Easy installation: empty bags are light and easy to ship to remote islands, then filled and placed with simple equipment and local labour.
4. Site-matched specification: the 450 GSM fabric was selected to suit site conditions in the Maldives.

Implementation

Installation process

1. Site preparation: erosion-prone stretches were assessed, and the placement area was cleared of debris and levelled.
2. Filling and placement: the geobags were filled with locally sourced sand and placed along the shoreline to break wave action.
3. Monitoring and maintenance: after installation the site was monitored for changes in sediment patterns, with adjustments made where needed.

Results

• Erosion control: the geobags reduced the wave energy reaching the beach and stopped further erosion along the protected stretch.
• Sediment build-up: within weeks, sand began to accumulate around the geobags, rebuilding the beach.

Geobags are one option among several on an eroding coast. Our guide to shoreline protection techniques explains how the cause of erosion should guide the choice between soft, hard and geosynthetic methods.

Long-term considerations

1. UV life: geotextile left exposed to strong sun slowly degrades, so UV-stabilised fabric and periodic inspection are part of any exposed geobag structure.
2. Community involvement: structures that local residents help build are more likely to be checked and maintained after the contractor leaves.
3. Cost: geobags cost less to ship and place than rock on remote islands, and damaged sections can be repaired by replacing individual bags.

Ocean Non Wovens supplies geobags and other geotextile products for coastal, river, landfill and erosion control work. See more case studies or call +91 84472 26007.