Globally

Marine and coastal degradation is caused by increasing pressure on both terrestrial and marine natural resources, and on the use of the oceans to deposit wastes. Population growth and increasing urbanization, industrialization and tourism in coastal areas are root causes of this increased pressure. In 1994, an estimated 37 per cent of the global population lived within 60 km of the coast — more people than inhabited the planet in 1950. The effects of population are multiplied by both poverty and human consumption patterns. Globally, sewage remains the largest source of contamination, by volume, of the marine and coastal environment, and coastal sewage discharges have increased dramatically in the past three decades.

Marine and coastal eutrophication from elevated nitrogen inputs has emerged as a worrying trend not foreseen three decades ago. There is increasing evidence that blooms of toxic or otherwise undesirable phytoplankton are increasing in frequency, intensity and geographic distribution. Severe eutrophication has occurred in several enclosed or semi-enclosed seas, including the Black Sea. Human-induced changes in the natural flow of sediment have emerged since the Stockholm Conference as a major threat to coastal habitats. Urban and industrial development drives the construction of residential and industrial infrastructure which, depending on its nature, can alter sediment flow.

There is particular concern about the possible effects of global warming on coral reefs. During the intense El Niño of 1997-98, extensive coral bleaching occurred on coral reefs worldwide. While some reefs quickly recovered, others, particularly in the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, the far western Pacific and the Caribbean, suffered significant mortality, in some cases more than 90 per cent.

Progress in protecting the marine and coastal environment over the past 30 years has generally been confined to relatively few, mostly developed countries, and to a relatively few environmental issues. Overall, coastal and marine environmental degradation not only continues but has intensified.

Locally - Australia

The United National Convention on the Law of the Sea, bestows Australia with rights and responsibilities to manage over 16 million square kilometres of ocean. This area is more than twice the land-mass of the Australian continent, with the great majority under Commonwealth Government jurisdiction.

Covering all five of the world temperature zones, Australia’s marine area extends from the tropical north to polar south, north west from Cocos and Christmas Islands, south west from the Kergulen Plateau and East to Norfolk Island. Long periods of geological isolation and the characteristic low nutrient status of Australian waters has resulted in high levels of endemism in the marine biota and a unique marine biodiversity.

Five major issues have been identified as major issues for Australia’s marine environment (National State of the Marine Environment Report, 1995):

Unsustainable use of marine and coastal resources.

Declining marine and coastal water/sediment quality, particularly as a result of inappropriate catchment land use practices.

Loss of marine and coastal habitat.

Lack of marine science policy and lack of long-term research and monitoring of the marine environment.

Lack of strategic, integrated planning in the marine and coastal environments.

Australia's coastal and marine environments are under increasing pressure from urban development, tourism, recreational activities and resource exploitation. In 1991, 86% of Australia's population resided in the coastal zone and, over the last twenty years, non-metropolitan coastal areas have experienced a striking 95% increase in population. This trend is forecasted to continue.

Concomitant with such growth is the loss of ecologically and aesthetically sensitive areas to a relentless and haphazard urban sprawl with its problems of waste disposal, habitat degradation, erosion and displeasing views. The CSIRO, for example, have calculated that 60% of the coastal wetlands in southern and eastern Australia have been lost through clearing or filling for tourism or urbanisation.

Historically, coastal zone management has been characterised by fragmentation due to a lack of cooperation (and often conflict) between government agencies responsible for conservation, urban development and resource management. It is now widely acknowledged that what happens in any part of a water catchment has ramifications throughout inter-connected river, estuarine and marine systems. Thus, an integrated approach to coastal zone management based on the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) must be adopted in order to ensure the long term viability of Australia's coast.

The fundamental principles of ESD are the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological integrity, the improvement of individual and community well-being, the provision of equity between generations and the recognition of global responsibilities. Integral to achieving these goals is a “precautionary approach” to policy and decision making. This would prevent developments or emissions causing ecological damage, even when there is scientific uncertainty as to the extent of the damage.

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