United States

EPA's National Estuary Program web site provides a brief overview of the most common problems facing the 28 Estuary Programs (NEPs).

The Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible stewardship and a common vision for the preservation and restoration of our nation’s bays and estuaries.

Inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus are the most significant and widespread pollution threat to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Since its inception in 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Program's highest priority has been the restoration of the Bay's living resources.

Long Island Sound

Low levels of oxygen in the Long Island Sound have resulted in significant, adverse ecological effects in bottom water habitats. The Long Island Sound Study, one of the 28 estuaries included in the National Estuary Program, has established targets for dissolved oxygen and has outlined a phased approach to achieve them.

Long Island Sound Reports and Studies (including Hypoxia Slide Presentation and Proposal for Phase III Actions for Hypoxia Management).

Sarasota Bay

Preliminary studies in Sarasota Bay indicate that the animal communities in seagrass meadows have resulted in reduced species diversity due to recurrent hypoxia associated with algal blooms. The Sarasota Bay Program, which convened in 1989, has developed a baywide monitoring program to assess long-term trends in the Bay's condition. For more information, visit Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program.

International

The Black Sea Web Project, a joint-project between local partners from the Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Romania and EC-partners from the Netherlands and Denmark, focuses on strengthening of environmental management for the Black Sea Region. Within the framework of the Project, a Demonstrator for a Black Sea Marine Environmental Management Support System, based on Telematics (Black Sea Web) will be developed and evaluated. This Demonstrator might provide a model for future expansion of the system among all countries bounded on the Black Sea. Also it will contribute to the further development of the Black Sea Region state-of-the-art on Informatics and Telematics.

Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities

Earth Trends: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. Map showing global occurances of hypoxic zones.