Case Studies - Coastal Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable Use and Development - page 415

jellyfish C. tuberculata was very scarce, but its very presence in the chart indicated
that it could be a serious threat in the future if nutrient inputs became high enough.
On the other hand, legislation for protection and harmonizing of uses of the
Mar Menor ( Protección y armonización de usos del Mar Menor ) or the establish-
ment of specific statutes for protection, such as the one that exists for the salt mines
area of San Pedro del Pinatar, will not be sufficient to stop the environmental
damage of these singular spaces unless they are supported by a suitable management
policy and a clear public awareness. Both must take into account that some urban-
planning excesses, although attractive and with high short-term profitability, can
shorten the life of lagoon ecosystems.
Any planning measure should define concise objectives for the use and exploi-
tation of these environments; make an inventory of its natural resources; study the
processes involved in the functioning of the ecosystem and of different subsystems
(terrestrial, marine, interchanges with the open sea and surrounding systems); make
an inventory of human activities and their influence on the ecological processes;
classify the territory on the basis of previously defined objectives and its ability to
sustain the different activities; establish the standards of environmental quality; and
design monitoring plans and correction measures.

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