Exploitation of coastal and marine resources

The region's coastal zones are the foundation of its economy and sustainability - 60 of the 77 largest towns are on the coasts, and 60 per cent of the population lives within 100 km of the coast (Cohen and others 1997). Development of residential areas and tourism infrastructure has greatly changed the features of coastal areas in the region. Physical alterations of coastlines due to urban growth and the construction of ports and industrial infrastructure are among the major factors that impact the region's coastal and marine ecosystems.

Tourism represents around 12 per cent of the GDP of the region, much of which is concentrated along the coasts. Some 100 million tourists visit the Caribbean each year and contribute 43 per cent of GDP and onethird of export revenue (WTTC 1993). The direct and indirect effects of tourism on coastal and marine areas can be seen in the increasing conversion of coastal habitats and subsequent impacts. For example, overextraction of ground water by expanding tourism infrastructure results in the intrusion of brackish or salt water into coastal aquifers, eventually contaminating the groundwater system and coastal soil.

Management status of principal coastal and marine areas
Conditions of use		Management and infrastructure support		Biogeographical zones
Intensively used and heavily populated coastal areas Intensive fishing pressure from both coastal populations and offshore fisheries High density or concentration of oil terminals, ports and shipping lanes		Intensively managed - high infrastructure support - regulatory, conservation and education efforts		Some areas of the tropical northwestern Atlantic, including Cancun, Mexico. Southeast Atlantic: Brazil
		Moderate management regulatory efforts with limited enforcement, limited conservation and education efforts		Most areas of the tropical northwestern Atlantic, such as Puerto Rico, parts of US Virgin Islands, Barbados and most islands of the Lesser Antilles Warm temperate northeastern Pacific, including Mexico Galapagos Islands
		Little to no region-wide management		Most areas of the tropical eastern Pacific, warm temperate southwestern Atlantic, including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay Some areas of tropical eastern Pacific
Moderately used coastal resources		Intensively managed		Areas of the warm temperate southeastern Pacific, including Peru and Chile - especially those related to coastal shelf fisheries
		Moderate management		Cold temperate South America, including Chile and Argentina
		Light management		Tropical southwestern Atlantic: Brazil
Lightly used coastal resources		Intensive management		Only a few examples of lightly used, intensive management in high profile remote marine protected areas
		Moderate management to little to no management		Very few areas under this category - even large, remote areas such as the Orinoco River delta are affected by land use alterations in the delta and upland watershed areas, even though use of the estuarine resources may be low Also Juan Fernandez and Desventuradas Islands