State of the Environment

Coasts, Estuaries and the Sea

The southern coast of Australia is one of the most significant south-facing sections of coast in the southern hemisphere and contributes to the unique status of Victoria’s coastal and marine flora and fauna. Because the coastal environment is the interface between catchments, rivers and the sea, the condition of coasts and estuaries can reflect the condition and management of the whole catchment.

It is the unique combination of environmental, social and economic values attributable to the coast and marine systems that make this region of Victoria worthy of a State of the Environment Report chapter in its own right.

Despite the value of the coastal environment and the significance of the processes impacting upon it, our knowledge and understanding, especially in regard to marine environments, is less developed than for terrestrial areas. While the effects of pressures such as urbanisation and climate change on coastal biodiversity are starting to be understood, generally, information about the coast is far more extensive where it relates to industry, demographics, and tourism.

This section looks at development on the coast, water quality in the largest estuaries in Victoria, marine biodiversity and the effects of climate change on coastal environments. It also provides an overview of policy responses to the challenge of coastal development in an era of rapid environmental change, and presents recommendations for adapting to the pressures of future climate change on coastal environments.

There are two ways to access sub-sections within the Coasts, Estuaries & The Sea section: The pdf’s below contain the introduction only and entire section respectively, while the links on the left will take you to each of the sub-sections individually.

Coasts, Estuaries and the Sea - Introduction only (PDF - 297 KB)

Coasts, Estuaries and the Sea (PDF - 1.9 MB)