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Issue: Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and land - Effects of changes in the land on the oceans

This is an issue under the Coasts and oceans theme of the Data Reporting System.

Why we need to know about this issue

Coastal land contributes terrestrial species and climatic factors to marine biodiversity and can place pressure on these interface species from sediments and acid sulphate soils which can be toxic to marine organisms.

Pressures from the land may affect the quality of estuarine and coastal waters and ultimately the condition of marine species.

While most of the substances that are potentially lethal to marine life that are being discharged into coastal waters from human settlements are the waste products of the human activities, the disturbance of original habitat with human structures also causes soil itself to drain into coastal waters, and soil can pollute coastal waters with sediments and nutrients, placing pressure on marine life, starving or suffocating it, or benefitting some species at the expense of others. Additionally, Australia’s coastal soils are rich in acid sulphates and these are particularly toxic to marine life.

Indicators

• CO-29 Change in area of coastal potential acid sulphate soils under development for human use 
  Much of the soil around Australia’s coastline is highly acidic. While it is primarily the disturbance of acid sulphate soils by human development that causes these soils to enter coastal waters, flooding and sea surge events can also transport acidic soils to coastal waters. Changes in area of potential acid sulphate soils encroached by human development is indicative of the length of coastline at risk of acid sulphate contamination.
• CO-01 Trends in selected groups of coastal and marine species and habitats 
  Changes in abundance and distribution of species living at the interface of the land and the ocean could be indicative of either changes arriving from the land, such as excess sediments or nutrients or acid sulphate soils, or changes from the ocean such as seawater influx.
• IW-12 Catchment nitrogen and phosphorus load 
  Sediments and nutrients from the land can place pressure on coastal and estuarine waters.
• IW-13 Catchment sediment load 
  Sediments and nutrients from the land can place pressure on coastal and estuarine waters.

Related issues

• Coasts and Oceans - Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans- Direct pressure of coastal activities (other than shipping and fishing) 
• Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and inland water- Effect of changes in inland waters on the coasts and oceans 
• Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and inland water- Effect of changes in coasts and oceans on inland waters 
• Coasts and Oceans - Contributions and pressures between the coasts and oceans and land- Effects of changes in the ocean on the land