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