Abstract
Describes how industrial development and agricultural practices have caused the nutrient enrichment of nearshore and estuarine ecosystems. The paper discusses management strategies that have been used or are being developed to overcome the resulting eutrophication problems, using two Western Australian ecosystems as case studies. These are the Peel-Harvey estuarine system and Cockburn Sound. Emphasis is given to two major principles underlying the management of aquatic ecosystems: that such ecosystems cannot be studied as isolated water bodies, and that a multi-disciplinary approach is essential for successful management