The coast can no longer be left to nature to determine its fate. Wealth, property, economic interests, recreation, tourism and wildlife are all threatened.Coastal and Estuarine Managementexamines the issues surrounding the human use and abuse of estuarine and coastal environments. Emphasizing the importance and significance of this natural resource, the uses and conflicts which occur and the results of human activity, Peter W. French explains the ways in which conservation and management policies and practices can protect this productive and diverse ecosystem. Examples and real-life case studies illustrate the effect of human intervention, both from a historic and contemporary perspective. Exposing the environmental consequences of estuarine pollution, French highlights the need for management strategies to promote a sustainable development ethic for estuaries.