11-48 



Such gross means can give only an order- of -magnitude estimate of 

 even the direct economic value of the estuarine zone and cannot 

 possibly reflect either indirect benefits or the social importance 

 of the estuarine zone, much less its ecological value. 



Valid criteria for evaluating the importance of the estuarine environ- 

 ment or the value of individual estuarine uses, to a community must, 

 however, go beyond the reach of economic approximation and recoanize 

 the fundamental relationship between man and his environment. Where- 

 ever there are people the environment will be exploited to satisfy 

 the needs and desires of man and his civilization. 



Increasing environmental pressures from demoqraphic and commercial 

 development are paralleled in the same community by the increasinn 

 desire for greater recreational use. That these can be compatible 

 is clearly shown by the San Diego Bay example. Such community 

 reactions as in San Diego and in San Francisco demonstrate that, while- 

 people need commercial development and use, they want a safe and 

 enjoyable environment at the same time. 



Social and Economic Trends in the Estuarine Zone 



At the present time, the major uses of estuaries, in terms of gross 

 monetary return are: military use, shipping, and industrial activi- 

 ties. These uses are, of course, historical and do not necessarily 

 reflect the uses that would be made of the estuary under today's 

 conditions or future conditions, if each use were to compete for the 



