Ms Amy Lindsay
Principal Consultant
Branch 
Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and marine environments where they are subject both to marine influences—such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water—and to riverine influences—such as flows of fresh water and sediment. The inflows of both sea water and fresh water provide high levels of nutrients both in the water column and in sediment, making estuaries one of the most productive natural habitats in the world. Disturbances to an estuary can influence a wide variety of habitats and organisms in the associated freshwater or marine ecosystem. Thus, the interaction between the estuarine systems and users creates a delicate balance, the sustainability of which needs to be maintained by implementing an appropriate management plan.
