The national government did not carry out an environmental impact assessment before dredging sand in the Indian Ocean at the South Coast, a lobby has said. The Community Organisation for Nature Conservation said the government did not adhere to international laws of nature conservation. Last year, the government was criticised after a Panama-flagged vessel, the Si Hang Cai Sha I grab dredger, previously known as the Tokai Maru 8, was found harvesting sand in the Indian Ocean. The government had allowed a Chinese company to harvest the sand for the construction of a terminal of the standard gauge railway in Mombasa. Tourism players, beach management units and fishermen raised the concerns that the vessel was allowed to harvest sand in the deep seas. The dredging was stopped after the outcry. Canco director Hadley Becha on Tuesday said the National Environment Management Authority should be held responsible for activities that destroy nature and aquatic life. He said an EIA was carried out after the sand harvesting had already taken place.