Which activities do you think created the most damage to coastal areas. Why?

Question

Just to want to hear peoples thoughts on coastal activites so which of the following activities do you think creates the most damage to coastal areas and why?

Types of activites -

- Litter

- Posts and fences

- Graffiti

- Tracks

- Fishing parts

- Flotsam

- Damaged Plants

- Other

Answer 1

I would say Litter and Others.

Litter

Litter does not limit to the rubbish that you can see on the beach. They includes the oil spill from tankers, liquid toxic materials in the waste water and solid waste that had been thrown into the river and ended up in the ocean. All these have affected the coastal areas in a very bad way.

For example spilled oil, oils have a smaller density compared to water and therefore it floats on the surface of the water. This inhibits the oxygen transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere. Thus, any marine life (plants and animals)  will die if the oil is not clean up immediately.

Solid waste will cause suffocation to animals who ate it and liquid toxic will cause death to any animals or plants that it comes into contact with.

Others: Tourism

Tourism is causing more harm than all other activities. A coastal area will be untouched if it is not for the tourism industries. Hotels, business blocks, houses and many more will be built on the coastal area just because the coastal area provides a beautiful setting for holidays.

Along with such developments, waste is unavoidable. Pollution is unavoidable. Erosion of coastal area. Land have to be used for building purposes, coastal forest have to be cleared to make way for developments. Human will come and enjoy the beauty of the coastal area and leave. When humans leave, they don't just leave footprints, they also leave others things that will destroy the coastal area.

Answer 2

Other: Land development. destruction of wetlands. destruction of dunes. And leads to all of the other things listed.

Answer 3

I would probably say litter in all shapes and forms cause the most damage. Not only is it unsightly, but there is a potential for wildlife to be harmed.

As for the rest, its just unsightly and usually poses no risk to the immediate environment.

Answer 4

other - runoff.  Because runoff includes things like oil and pesticides.  Both of these will kill the animals living there and do almost irreversible damage to the environment.