Rapid assessment of coastal zone management requirements: A case-study from the Arabian Gulf

A simple, rapid method for preliminary assessment of coastal zone management requirements is described, based on semi-quantitative (ranked) data on coastal resources, uses and environmental impacts. The method is illustrated using results from a recent assessment of the Saudi Arabian Gulf coastal zone. A computer database and statistics program are used to manipulate and analyse the data. Of the various database outputs and analyses, the following are of particular value in coastal management: first, a summary of data, to indicate the overall state of the coastal environment; second, identification and assessment of major areas of concentrated resources, and of heavy uses/impacts; third, areas in which concentrated resources overlap with heavy uses/impacts, to denote principal conflict areas, and hence where management may be needed most urgently; fourth, grouping of sites according to environmental conditions using cluster analysis, a useful aid if selecting representative sites for a protected area system; and fifth, associations between environmental variables by means of correlation. The approach described is considered to be most effective when combined with more detailed coastal zone management studies.