The forgotten service: food as an ecosystem service from estuarine and coastal zones

Abstract

In this chapter, we review in detail the existing body of literature and knowledge related to the provision of food in estuaries and coastal zones. Both aquatic and terrestrial commodities are considered. The chapter highlights not only the importance of the terrestrial zone in overall food provision but also the substantial contribution of aquatic coastal resources. The various problems that the coastal zone faces in sustaining this important provisioning service in the face of increasing pressure and demands from other sectors are highlighted. Despite the important contribution of aquatic resources to food provision, these are often undervalued and underrepresented in coastal and national planning processes.