Environmental capacity of the ocean margins: reality or myth?

The concept of environmental capacity (EC) has been put forward as a scientific basis for allowing controlled discharge of wastes into the environment rather than zero discharge. A detailed description of the steps necessary to carry out an EC estimation is presented together with five case studies. Estimating EC using a predictive model is complex, expensive, and as yet unreliable. To date the endpoints which have most commonly been used for EC estimates are critical pathways to humankind, because unlike marine ecosystem effects, it is relatively easy to assign values for the levels of pollutant exposure which are harmful to humans. Mariculture is expected to become important both as a means to develop more sophisticated endpoints for marine organisms and as an endpoint in itself. The actual endpoint chosen is a social decision albeit within a scientific framework. It is concluded that EC is a valid scientific concept which can be useful in defining the framework for management decisions; however, it is too complex and expensive to use as a basis for legislation. -from Authors