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In some instances, population growth rates (from both migration and indigenous
growth) in coastal areas are several times greater than national growth
rates (NOAA, 1998). This coastal migration also represents a significant cultural
transformation. Most of this migration also represents a move from rural
to urban environments. Today, 14 of the world’s largest cities are coastal. The
descriptor “megacities” characterizes cities with populations in excess of 10
million and the unique problems, including environmental, that evolve from
them (World Bank, 1992).
The concentration of human population in coastal cities is well illustrated by
China. In a country of nearly 10 million km 2 , close to 60% of the population
lives in 12 coastal provinces, along the Yangtze River valley and in two coastal
municipalities – Shanghi and Tianjin (Hinrichsen, 1998).
These trends not only mean an increased absolute population, but also high
population densities in the coastal cities. For instance, along the Chinese coast,
population densities average between 110 and 1,600/km 2 , with Shanghi having
densities above 2,000. Many of the environmental stressors imposed on
coastal systems result from high population densities.
The ICOM process should ensure that population dynamics and culture values
are considered and their implications are linked to our understanding of their
potential impacts on coastal and ocean ecosystems.
5.3 Socioeconomic indicators
Many of the goals and objectives of ICOM relate to socioeconomic aspects
such as livelihoods, food security, human health, monetary, and other benefits.
Socioeconomic indicators provide a useful means to represent the human
component of coastal and marine systems, as well as a useful tool in the
development of ICOM strategies and projects. They are used to report and
measure human activities and conditions in the coastal zone, and to assess the
socioeconomic impacts of ICOM efforts.
Socioeconomic indicators allow ICOM managers to: (i) incorporate and monitor
the concerns and interests of stakeholders in the management process; (ii)
evaluate the impacts of management decisions on stakeholders; (iii) demonstrate
the socioeconomic value of coastal and marine areas and their resourc-
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A handbook
for measuring the progress and outcomes of integrated coastal and ocean management
es; and (iv) assess the costs and benefits of using coastal and marine areas and
their resources.
The suite of suite of indicators presented in this chapter relate specifically to
the goals and objectives that are set out at the start of this chapter. It is important
to note, however, that these indicators could nonetheless be used to
track progress toward a different set of objective statements, as long as those
objectives are within the same general categories.
Economic indicators
Regardless of the specific goals and objectives of any particular ICOM project,
there are three key indicators which provide relevant information from and
economic perspective for ICOM:
• Total economic value: includes both gross value and net value (value added),
and should be determined for all marine-related activities in the ICOM area
• Total employment: includes both economic value of employment and the
number of persons employed; and
• Direct investment: includes private sector investment, public sector investment
and direct foreign investment.
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