South China Sea: Present and potential coastal area resource use conflicts

Abstract

Abstract Coastal areas of the South China Sea exhibit broad geomorphological, climatic, biological and physical oceanographic similarities. Conflicts between coastal area resource uses in this physical marine region are becoming apparent. These conflicts result from a combination of increasing coastal area population concentration and traditional dependence on the coastal area for livelihood, food, trade and waste disposal, recently supplemented by recreational, industrial and non-renewable resource extraction activities. This paper reviews the general present status of major competing coastal area resource uses and their conflicts, and delineates present and potential geographic areas of concern. Extractive industries, industrial water use, and estuarine discharge conflict with fisheries, tourism/recreation, and human health. Geographic areas of concern include the region's major coastal urban concentrations, the Malacca Straits, the Bight of Bangkok and the greater Gulf of Tailand. To ameliorate conflict resolution, governmental philosophies geared to Western models of growth development should also incorporate the concept of planned growth, i.e., optimum allocation of coastal area resource use designed to minimize conflict, so recently, and thus painfully, adopted in the West.