Impacts and Effects of Pollution on Marine and Coastal Resources

Marine (beaches, intertidal, littoral, bathyal, abyssal, and pelagic) and coastal (interface between land and the sea) resources play a pivotal role in the livelihood of coastal people. Management of land-based activities is a major challenge in coastal areas, since it can produce hazards impacts on coastal resources. Anthropogenic drivers such as climate change, globalization, increased personal wealth and living standards, industrialization, migration, population growth, and urbanization can generate multiple impacts of different strength on coastal resources. It is evident that all biotic coastal resources are highly impacted by land-based activities, with agriculture, ports/harbours and aquaculture. Population growth is a key driver for several land-based activities related to the provision of food, water and energy. These include fishing, aquaculture, agriculture, deforestation and salt extraction, as well as oil and gas production and marine renewable energy production. For effective coastal resource management, the local control bodies should prepare a mandate for conservation of coastal resources by planning, protection, regulatory enforcement, legislation, intergovernmental relations, relations with non-governmental organizations, and with extension and technical assistance. The present review provides compilation of an updated published literature on the impact of anthropogenic drivers on the coastal resources. This study suggests that, local government plays an important role for protection and recovery of coastal and marine resources. Further, communities should be involved in coastal resource management by activities such as identification of stakeholders and formation of partnerships, community organization and mobilization, community participation in the planning process, and information, and education.