Global Plan of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities

Physical Alterations and Destruction of Habitats (PADH)

The increase of populations and economic activities in coastal areas is leading to an expansion of construction, which in turn leads to alterations to coastal zones and waters. Excavation, mining (such as sand and aggregate extraction, the building of ports and marinas and building of coastal defenses and other activities linked to urban expansion are giving rise to alterations of coral reefs, shorelands, beachfronts, and the seafloor. Important habitats are being destroyed. Wetlands are being transformed, into agricultural lands, and through coastal development. Tourism, unrestricted and uncontrolled aquaculture, and clearance of mangroves are also causing the physical destruction of important habitats. Spawning grounds, nurseries and feeding grounds of major living marine resources of crucial importance to world food security are being destroyed. This destruction of habitat exacerbates overharvesting of these living marine resources leading to a growing risk that they are being depleted. This is an increasing threat to the food security of coastal populations, in particular in developing countries.

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Tourism

Tourism is already the world's largest industry, and is continuously growing. The number of international tourists increased from 170 million in 1971 to 635 million in 1998. By 2020, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) predicts that 1.5 billion international travellers will spend USD 2 trillion every year on tourism. Read more about tourism...

Ports and Harbours

The global need for coastal facilities has risen dramatically in the last decade due to growing commercial, industrial and recreational needs. New ports and harbours are being developed and existing facilities expanded with great momentum. Read more about ports and harbours...

Mining

Mining is an expanding industry that can provide sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits to the communities and regions in which it operates. Achievement of these benefits to the full potential not only requires integrated and enabling policy frameworks but also depends heavily upon the commitment of the state sector and the industry to invest in high standards of environmental performance. Read more about mining...

Aquaculture

Aquaculture - the cultivation or farming of fish, shellfish and algae - has been practiced for centuries in many parts of the world. Today, it is the fastest growing animal food- producing sector, and a rapidly expanding and productive industry in the coastal zone. The contribution of aquaculture to the world total supplies of fish, shellfish and molluscs has grown steadily, increasing from just below 4 per cent in 1970 to over 27 per cent in 2000. Since 1984, aquaculture has grown by 300 percent. In 2001, the total production including aquatic plants (excluding production in the People's Republic of China) was 18 million tonnes. Projections indicate an increase of production to between 27 and 39 million tonnes in 2010. Read more about aquaculture...