Numerous sandy beaches around Jamaica's coastline and on several inshore cays are invaluable to the tourism industry for the enjoyment of local and foreign visitors. This resource is under threat from pollution, erosion and illegal sand mining. The erosion of Jamaica's shoreline may be attributed to several factors. The degradation of coral reefs and mangrove forests have exposed the sandy beaches to increased wave action, and the illegal but common practice of mining sand from beaches has exacerbated the problem. Both recreational and fishing beaches have been ic activities within the country occur there, making coastal zone management very important for the country. The wetland areas are important to the coastal ecosystem in that they provide habitat for a wide variety of organisms (e.g. birdsof the economic activities within the country occur there, making in that they provide habitat for a wide variety of organisms (e.g. birdsaddress fisheries management are deficient. The Wildlife Protection Act (1945) states that juvenile fish are to be protected, and that the definitio The importance of sea grass beds in the growth cycles of fish, lobsters and other commercially important species is recognized by scientists but has not been fully explored. Indeed there is very little information available on the extent and location of sea grass beds on Jamaica's coastal shelves and (inshore and offshore) banks. Jamaica's marine environment is notoriously overfished; indeed the CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management