Impact of coastal protection systems on marine ecosystems

Abstract

Various solutions, which consist of numerous techniques, technologies and planning measures, are testing for reduction shoreline erosion, precisely for protection shore against waves attack. These methods may affect the site's geology and geomorphology, involving changes of the habitats in the site. Coastal defense projects and ideas must take into account the structure and functions of protected natural areas and their conservation objectives in order to avoid threatening the species and/or habitats on the site. The ecological impacts expected from coast protection structures on short-term are mostly negative, may disturbance the birds from their habitat, and destruct the marine coastal habitats with their own flora and fauna. In this study, we are indicating the effects of coastal protection measures on the ecosystem. Therefore, we present a part of methods applied or which will be apply on the Romanian shoreline and the effects that have an impact on the species and/or habitats on the site. The methods referred to “hard” methods so to harder the shore with fixed structure (bulkhead, seawall, revetment, breakwaters, sills or groins) or “soft” methods like beach nourishment that is not a sustainable method in time. The protection structures like breakwaters and groins trap or add sand and will change the beach geometry this means that can introduce new artificial material, which is extensively and rapidly colonized by algae and marine animals. In the cases of beach nourishment, under water sand nourishment and mudflat recharge, there are impacts both at the borrow site (the sediment source) and the target site. In the zone of extraction of borrow, sediments appear a damage and mortality to the benthos. Finally, it can conclude that some of the effects are beneficial for socio-economic aspect, but it is important also, the environment, which can bring bad consequences for earth landscape and make the ecosystem, be unbalanced.