Chapter VIII 

 MAN'S USES OF THE SHORELINE 



Competition for Coastal Resources 



As population pressures along our coasts intensify, competition in- 

 creases for the use of limited shoreline resources. Paradoxically, at 

 the same time we seek to derive increased and multiple benefits from 

 the shore, the by-products of tecluiological progress continue to di- 

 minish its value. In all too many instances, polluted harbors and bays, 

 oil-covered beaches, and eroded shorelines have accompanied economic 

 development along our coasts. The need for concerted Federal and 

 local initiatives to arrest further shoreline degradation has now 

 reached a level of some urgency. 



Seventy-five percent of our population lives in the States bordering 

 the oceans and the Great Lakes. Coastward migration continues. 

 The oceans have a direct impact on the health and welfare of every 

 coastal resident, as well as the tens of millions of Americans who 

 swim, boat, fish, and relax along our beautiful coasts. Also, thousands 

 of commercial fishermen depend for their catches on clean waters of 

 our bays, estuaries, and nearshore coastal waters, and some commu- 

 nities are now turning to the oceans as a source of industrial and 

 drinking water. 



At the same time, many industries and municipalities consider the 

 marine environment as a convenient dumping ground for garbage, 

 sewage, industrial, and agricultural wastes. Coastal engineering 

 projects, while benefiting one area, may adversely affect silt deposition 

 or erosion in others. 



Science and technology can provide tools to help understand the 

 interaction of man's activities and his coastal ecology. But under- 

 standing is not enough. For shorelines to serve many competing 

 interests requires informed interaction of political, economic, and 

 social institutions. The resources of the Federal and State govern- 

 ments can assist, but not supplant local actions to preserve our coasts 

 while deriving their benefits. 



Industry must have a key role in these matters since it uses water in 

 industrial processes, often discharges wastes into coastal waters, and 

 contributes to technology of waste disposal needed to maintain water 

 quality standards. 



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