Coastal and Shelf Processes, Science for Integrating Management

A major challenge facing us is to sustain human use of coastal areas and their natural resources within the context of increasing human pressures and uncertainty over the scale and nature of climate changes. To address this challenge, there is an urgent need to more effectively use available scientific knowledge and to fill critical gaps in our understanding of coastal systems. This paper identifies user problems and corresponding scientific opportunities. Critical knowledge gaps which need more or new research include: natural variability in space and time, experimental management, potential role of habitats and species, effects of changing nutrient regimes, preturbations of food web dynamics, and ocean-atmosphere-sea-coast coupling. Safety risks, extreme eventsincluding thinking the unthinkable, food security, sustainable dynamic land-sea boundaries, multiple use, and water quality are other items which demand more attention. Indispensable tools include: permanent integrated coastal oberservational systems, large scale research facilities like mesocosms, marine reintroduction sites and protected areas and a stronger framework to help integrate knowledge. Since in most cases we are dealing with global issues and problems, the need for more co-operation with developing countries and capacity building is stressed.