The most recent study on sand mining is almost 30 years old. (CBC)

The P.E.I. government has commissioned a report on mining sand from beaches, particularly the effect it may have on coastal erosion.

Sand is mined every spring from four P.E.I. beaches, including Cascoigne Cove on the eastern end of the Island. Local resident John Aspin has been fighting the practice for 20 years.

"We've had people in the community leave because of the noise and, well, really the degradation," Aspin told CBC News on Wednesday.

"They watched the degradation and they can't believe the Prince Edward Island government would allow this to happen."

The sand is mixed with other materials, mostly from the mainland, to make concrete. Forcing contractors to use mainland sand now would be especially costly since the price of transporting materials has jumped considerably with the price of oil.

The practice also provides much-needed jobs in rural areas.

John Aspin has been fighting against sand mining in Cascoigne Cove for 20 years. (CBC)

Bruce Raymond is writing the report on sand mining, and coming into the process is already aware that beaches play a big role in maintaining shorelines.

"The studies on climate change, with sea level rise, has shown that coastal shoreline erosion is going to speed up, get worse and cost P.E.I. a great deal of money," said Raymond.

"The best protection for that is to keep sand on the beaches so that erosion isn't as bad."

The last study on sand mining was done almost 30 years ago. It said some areas, like Cascoigne Cove, collect sand that moves around the Island, and described the sand resource in those areas as renewable. Researchers now have much more sophisticated computer-modelling tools, and the new study, to be completed in July, could come to a different conclusion.