Table 35.1 - Relationships between human activities and coastal zone problems

Human activity Agents/consequences Coastal zone degradation problems
Urbanisation and transport Landuse changes (eg, for ports, airports); road, rail and air congestion; dredging and disposal of harbour sediments; spills at sea (oil, sewage garbage); water abstraction; wastewater and waste disposal Loss of habitats and species diversity; visual intrusion; lowering of groundwater table; salt water intrusion; water pollution; human health risks; eutrophication; introduction of alien species
Agriculture Land reclamation; fertiliser and pesticide use; livestock densities; water abstraction; river channelisation Loss of habitats and species diversity; water pollution; eutrophication; reduction of freshwater inputs to coastal waters
Tourism, recreation and hunting Development and landuse changes (eg, golf courses); road, rail and air congestion; ports and marinas; water abstraction; wastewater and waste disposal Loss of habitats and species diversity; disturbance; visual intrusion; lowering of groundwater table; salt water intrusion in aquifers; water pollution; eutrophication; human health risks
Fisheries and aquaculture Port construction; fish processing facilities; fishing gear; fish farm effluents Overfishing; impacts on non-target species; litter and oil on beaches; water pollution; eutrophication; introduction of alien species; habitat damage and change in marine communities
Industry (including energy production) Landuse changes; power stations; extraction of natural resources; process effluents; cooling water; windmills; river impoundment; tidal barrages Loss of habitats and species diversity; water pollution; eutrophication; thermal pollution; visual intrusion; decreased input of freshwater and sediment to coastal zones; coastal erosion