This table is a list of pressures associated with the marine environment and their descriptions. This table was produced from a review of previous attempts to link human activities to marine pressures in order to move towards development of a standardised UK pressure-activities matrix in which pressure-activities links are identified. Coastal and marine ecosystems have historically been subjected to a number of human-induced pressures associated with a variety of marine activities and developments. The mechanisms through which specific human activities impact the marine environment, however, are still poorly understood.
In order to describe links between activities and pressures, it is first necessary to define lists of these two components, in order that relationships can be considered in relation to these standard definitions.
Additional information source: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-7136