THE STOCKHOLM STATEMENTON INTERACTION OF LAND ACTIVITIES,FRESHWATER AND ENCLOSED COASTAL SEAS
BACKGROUND
The ongoing degradation of coastal seas and large
inland lakes and rivers constitutes a major threat
to global quality of life and to coastal and marine
ecosystems Nearly three-fourths of the world's
population live within 100 km of the sea-coast
where their physical as well as economic well-being
depends on such activities as fishing, shipping,tourism, recreation, farming and industries. Some
80 percent of the pollutants responsible for thisdegradationarecarriedwithrivers

andgroundwater flows to the sea and originate fromland-based human activities in the drainage basins of rivers that discharge into coastal waters. Alsopollution caused by shipping, mining and drilling, as for oil exploitation, are causing concern.
Past Conferences on the Environmental Management of Enclosed Coastal Seas (EMECS) haveresulted in a network linking many scientists and others studying enclosed coastal seas. A similar
network has been created through previous Stockholm Water Symposia. The Joint 7th Stockholm
Water Symposium/3rd EMECS Conference 10 - 15 August 1997 in Stockholm brought together over
one thousand participants from these two networks of respectively marine and freshwater specialists.
The Joint Conference participants, representing over eighty countries and intergovernmental andnongovernmental organizations, expressed deep concern about the difficulties experienced aroundthe world as nations attempt to cope with this threat to our planetary life support system. The
Conference reviewed the experience and provided a forum for the dissemination of lessons learned.
The application of these lessons and the development of management innovations is vital.
RECOMMENDATIONSThe Joint Stockholm Water Symposium/EMECS Conference recommends that all Governments,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and other policy and decision making bodies
take action aimed at reducing the pollution loads to safe levels, to enclosed coastal seas, based on thefollowing four principles:
Principle no 1. Pursue an holistic approach
We must see the drainage basin and corresponding coastal sea as a dynamic whole, treating them asone complex system. The physical linkage between drainage area and coastal sea through themobility of water - a unique solvant that moves continuously from land to sea - demands an
integrated approach to land use and water management. A systematic approach to the land-sea
complex will facilitate diagnosis of physical and chemical problems, and hasten identification andimplementation of remedies through holistic and proactive management.
Principle no 2. Improve understanding
We must base the long-terrn sustainable management of coastal resources on the access tosynthesized information about their inherent ecological, social, economic, and political importance.
Finding effective solutions to prevent further pollution and restore ecosystems will depend on
identifying the causal chain between destrttctive and polluting human activities in the drainage
basin - and the driving forces behind them - and the degradation of coastal ecosystems. Only thencan we reverse the unfortunate social and economic impacts that result from misuse of our resources.
Principle no 3. Develop an active dialogue
We must base our decisions and actions on specific regional targets, and on realistic assessment ofsocial, economic, technical, and professional resources in individual countries. Internationalcooperation among concerned countries, and administrative responsibilities for the enclosed coastal
seas should be considered as important factors to prevent continued degradation. Decisions will thus
demand careful priority-setting, a process that in tum requires constructive dialogue and exchange
of information between major stakeholder groups: citizens, industry leaders, farmers, fisheries,
resource managers and decision-makers. Non-governmental organizations could flinction as active
bridgebuilders facilitating regional cooperation among stakeholders, municipalities and countries
surrounding the world's coastal seas.
Principle no 4. Act locally - Think regionally
We must pursue the implementation of needed technical and legal measures on the local level. Bytargeting activities at the level of sub-basins, while maintaining a focus on ecosystem-wide goals
based on an integrated land-sea approach, we can substantially improve efficiency and success.
Building awareness among politicians, administrators, and the general public will be a crucialcomponent in these efforts. Educational measures play an important role to achieve these goals.
FINAL COMMENTS
The participants of the Joint Conference have finally taken note, with satisfaction, of an opportunity
for further dialogue between freshwater and marine specialists at the Fourth EMECS Conference tobe held in Antalya, Turkey, in November 1999, jointly with the Fourth International Conference on
the Mediterranean Coastal Environment (MEDCOAST 99).