Coastal ecosystems are diverse and productive, and subjected to ever increasing pressures.
Sustaining coastal ecosystems requires coordinated multi-disciplinary efforts involving all levels of government, the private sector and the public. Through committments in the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement and the Coastal Bays Comprehensive Conservation and Managment Plan , Maryland CZMP is addressing coastal ecosystem issues in a comprehensive manner. In addition the formal committments to the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays, the Maryland has a Coastal Non point Pollution Control Program. The Non point Pollution Control Program establishes management measures to control polluted runoff, focuses on pollution prevention, encourages local participation and establishes shared responsiblity for managing coastal water quatlity problems between coastal management and water quality agencies. The following are goals of the Coastal Zone Management Program with a few examples of actions Maryland has taken to achieve these goals.