Conservation
America’s coastlines are diverse and dynamic areas that include rocky shores, sandy beaches, dunes, estuaries, and even coral reefs. They contain some of the nation's most productive wildlife habitats, support valuable fisheries, and provide recreation for millions of people. However, pollution and land development are threatening coastal resources: beaches are being washed away due to erosion, coral reefs are being destroyed, and changes in estuarine habitats are endangering ecosystems.
The richness that the coasts bring to our lives -- whether to a fisherman setting out on the water just as the sun rises, to a mother wanting to show her child the wonders of life teeming in a tide pool, or to adults seeking solitude in a place of exquisite beauty -- could one day be gone. However, with proper stewardship, America’s coastal resources can continue to support human needs and uses without compromising ecological integrity or biological diversity.