Chapter Twelve Human influences on muddy coasts

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Summary Muddy coasts have been widely and intensively utilized. This use began early in human history because many muddy coasts are relatively wide, long and essentially flat, and are therefore able to be utilized by excavating pans, pools, and canals, while the excavated mud can be used for reclamation or to build dikes. Moreover, muddy coasts are geographically widespread, not only in large river deltaic plains which have very convenient transportation and living conditions, but also in rocky embayments along hilly to mountainous coastlines possessing locally rich sources of fine sediment. The human utilization of muddy coasts has allowed significant advances in socioeconomic conditions, but also impacted upon the natural environment. The positive, beneficial aspects of the human harnessing of muddy coasts are manifest in the creation of large areas of new land for agriculture, aquaculture, industry, settlements, etc. Such reclamation has to some degree mitigated the socio-economic pressure resulting from a shortage of land and resources, as well as reducing the environmental overload in coastal areas. However, many negative, even deleterious. influences have accompanied the human utilization of muddy coasts. The major problems include (i) pollution from coastal agriculture, aquaculture, industry, oil exploration, and the growth of cities; (ii) loss of important natural habitat by conversion to fish and shrimp ponds and by an expanding hydrocarbon industry; and (iii) erosion of muddy coast due to sediment starvation resulting from ill-advised coastal engineering projects, mining, or from inland water projects reducing river and sediment discharge to the coast. Such adverse processes have seriously damaged the ecological environment of muddy coasts in many coastal areas. In addition, the economic and scientific-technological forces that pressure muddy coastal environments have evolved rapidly with time. Practice and experience from past human utilization of muddy coasts indicate that integrated response strategies, including coastal management in a broad sense, are needed. These can be established using as a base the better understanding of coastal scientific and baseline knowledge, including some successful experiences and instructive lessons gained from present-day utilization of the muddy coast.