One of the main issues in biodiversity management is the protection of special or critical, littoral habitats, including shallow water bodies such as brackish estuaries and beaches.

While it is useful and practical to focus on individual habitat types or species, one must not forget that they exist only as components of wider coastal systems. The complexity of biotic systems and the inter relationship of their components requires that each coastal water ecosystem should be managed as a system. Neither piecemeal management nor treatment of single components or single species will fully succeed.

There are many protection measures to secure biodiversity conservation in coastal zones, including the following

• identification of endangered species;
• designation of protected areas;
• maintaining corridors;
• environmental monitoring and research;
• regulation of marine pollution;
• restoration and mitigation;
• regulation of fisheries;
• Managing biodiversity in traditional and small-scale fisheries
• Managing biodiversity in large-scale fisheries
• Managing biodiversity in aquaculture

Example on common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) in White Sea, Russia

Common eider is a widely distributed large duck. It almost disappeared along the coast of the White Sea because of hunting and human consumption of eggs.

Since 1930 a large part of the coastline of the Kandalaksha Bay together with approximately one hundred small islands in the White Sea have been declared as a strictly protected area. Both hunting, fishing and even visiting of these areas are forbidden or strictly regulated in order to protect the ducks during the nestling period, and a few weeks more, while the ducklings are growing up.

At this moment the population of common eider ducks in the White sea exceeds 5000 - 8000 animals. This is more than in the beginning of the 20th century.

Example: Over-exploitation of natural resources (water); SEYFE LAKE, Turkey

Introduction

Anatolia region of Turkey, 220 km from Ankara City and 30 km from Kirsehir City. The Seyfe catchment area covers 152,200 hectares.

In 1960's and 1970's there were several attempts to drain the lake water to gain agricultural land. Seyfe Lake and the wetland area have been protected against these actions.

The lake and the surrounding 10,700 hectare area have been declared a "Nature Conservation Site". The same area is to be conserved for its natural and ecological characteristics, on an international level according to the Ramsar Convention, 1994.

Main issues:

The lake environment holds a rich flora and fauna. The most important fauna consists of water birds. 187 different bird species have been identified. The number of birds increases in winter and during migration periods reaching numbers up to 100,000. The lake area is also an important breeding area for endangered species of birds.

Shallow watercourses with fresh and salty water, wetlands and the step areas give this region an abundance of biodiversity.