By George Stoyle

Traditional definitions of the coastal zone are very much focused on physical and natural interactions occurring between the land and the sea, as well as associated ecological processes of interconnected ecosystems. The coastal zone is defined as "all intertidal and supratidal areas of the water's edge; specifically all the coastal floodplains, mangroves, marshes and tideflats as well as beaches and dunes and fringing coral reefs". Prior to the declaration of Agenda 21, coastal resource management (CRM), with the exception of a few cases, was principally centred on management of the natural environment through continued, long-term studies of natural processes. The provision of recommendations and solutions to prevent or reduce environmental degradation has been the domain of natural scientists who, in the past, have been inclined to perceive the human component as a major source of the problem and largely irrelevant to the solution. The formation of new policies and management strategies regarding conservation of the environment have often been a result of data obtained from various ecological analyses, excluding the social, cultural and economic elements that are very often the crux of the issues associated with over exploitation and habitat misuse. Furthermore, exclusion policies and regulations regarding management of coastal resources have typically been enforced through a centralised, hierarchical system with no consideration of those directly affected.

In light of the exponential rise in human population and predicted future growth rate, failure to recognise and comprehend the multidimensional nature of the coastal zone, including ecological, social, cultural, economic and political processes, results in failure to achieve long-term sustainability of coastal resources and ultimately failure to prevent continued habitat over-exploitation and degradation. Such failures have been demonstrated in a number of developing tropical countries as a result of national-level agencies attempting to manage resources without the involvement and cooperation of resource users resulting in widespread habitat loss through overfishing and other anthropogenic disturbances such as sedimentation and pollution. From these examples it is clear that use of coastal resources is very much determined by complex social and economic variables, including income, class, age, religion, ethnicity, gender, education and health, and so the only effective method of achieving sustainability is through integrated management of ecological and social community dynamics. Information regarding public perceptions, community support, and the use of stakeholder participation in resolving environmental issues are integral factors required to achieve conservation objectives. This information can then be used to develop and implement co-operative, co-management strategies in order to resolve conflict and influence attitudes and behaviours, with the long-term goal of empowering communities to sustainably manage their own resources.

One of the primary objectives of CRM is to acquire information regarding all factors that have an influence on the coastal zone be they positive or negative. In order to fully comprehend the interconnections between these factors, an holistic perspective must be attained incorporating both ecological and socioeconomic variables, therefore providing an interdisciplinary approach to managing coastal resource issues. It is now recognised that the traditional definition of the coastal zone is insufficient because it fails to address the socioeconomic environment and the importance of coastal habitats for the development and subsistence of mankind. A more holistic definition of the coastal zone in this regard, is "a special geographical area wherein its productive and natural defense functions are intimately linked with the physical and socio-economic conditions far beyond its physical boundary".

Although continued environmental assessments clearly have a crucial role in determining the extent of degradation caused by anthropogenic activities, the use of socioeconomic, demographic and cultural assessments, including understanding and integrating community dynamics, attitudes and perceptions, should be seen as an essential first step in the process of CRM planning. In particular, cultural or community perceptions of resources can be a fundamental factor in how they are utilised and managed, resulting in sustainable, extractive or destructive use. An understanding of these perceptions, through the use of socioeconomic surveys in the initial stages of the planning process can aid the resolution of environmental issues far more effectively than exclusive ecological studies.