Chapter 2 Estuary management Many of the issues identified in
the Introduction highlight the need for a strategic framework
for estuarine planning and management activities (Figure 2.1).
This chapter: - Provides the context for much of the work
seeking to identify change, providing an explanation for several
drivers; - Discusses the importance of strategic estuarine
management and regulation, and the need for considering
sustainable development of an estuary; - Provides information on
ways in which a management framework can be developed to
integrate legislation, human impact, natural variability and
system response. - Identifies frameworks developed for the
purpose stated above. The nature conservation importance of
estuaries has already been noted and within the UK, this is
reflected in the fact that some 76% of the area in estuaries has
some form of European nature conservation designation  (Townend,
1997). Estuaries are also highly productive and play an
important role in the food chain. At the same time,