Abstract
The historical development of a process of reclamation of intertidal areas in an estuary has been quantitatively studied by means of old engravings, maps, navagation charts, and aerial photographs. These show that about 83 percent of the natural coastline of the estuary has disappeared, nearly two-thirds of its intertidal area has been covered, and over 40 percent of its volume has been lost. The rate of this artificial process is several tens of times faster than that of the natural sedimentation. Extrapolation of the observed trends shows that, if these continue, the intertidal areas would disappear completely in 31 to 105 years.
Theoretical calculations based on comparisons with other estuaries show that the accumulated loss in the productivity of living matter (in the form of primary producers), since the process started about 140 years ago, could reach 1.5·1010 kg. This could represent, considering several possible food chains, the equivalent of the food necessary to sustain several thousand people for life.
An economic analysis of the impact of the process has been made by considering, first, the decrease in fish and shellfish catches in the bay (using historical data and data about present clam productivity) and the decrease in its aesthetic quality and recreational potential. These were determined by means of interviews with the population to obtain a “demand curve” for the willingness to pay for the preservation and use of the bay. Second, the price of the man-made land obtained was considered. The data obtained show that the economic losses would offset the benefits within 10 to 30 years.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Alaejos, L., 1920, La pesca marítima en España en 1920; Provincia de Santander: Boletin de Pescas, Madrid, n. 67.
Braun, J, 1618, Civitatis Orbis Terrarum, translated by M. Menéndez Pelayo: Revista de Santander 1930–33, v. 1, p. 9.
Cendrero, A., 1975, Environmental geology of the Santander Bay Area, Northern Spain: Environmental Geology, v. 1, no. 2, p. 97–114.
Cendrero, A, and J. R. Díaz de Terán, 1977, Caracterización cuantitativa del desarrolo histórico del relleno de la Bahía de Santander; un processo natural activado por el hombre: Revista de Obras Públicas, Madrid, Oct. 1977, p. 797–808.
Clawson, M., and J. L. Knetsch, 1971, Economics of outdoor recreation: Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, 328 p.
Díaz de Terán, J. R., 1976, Sedimentología y dinámica de las arenas de El Puntal, Santander: Anal. Inst. Estud. Ind. Econ. Ciencias, Institución Cultural de Cantabria, Santander, v. 1, p. 229–329.
Fernández Pato, C., and J. I. Arnal, 1977, Relations biometriques de la palourde Venerupis decussata L. de la baïe de Santander: Conseil Int. Expl. Mer. Iceland 1977, CM 1977/K:17.
Gunnerson, L. G., 1963, Mineralization of the organic matter in Santa Monica Bay, California: Proc. Symp. Marine Biology.
Krutilla, J. V., and A. C. Fisher 1975 The economics of natural environments. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, 292 p.
López de Sebastián, J, 1975, Economía de los espacios de ocio: I.E.A.L., Madrid, 303 p.
Margaleff, R., 1974, Ecologia: Barcelona, Omega, 951 p.
Mock, C. R., 1966, Natural and altered estuarine habitats of penacid shrimps: Proc. Gulf. and Caribean Fisheries Inst., v. 19; p. 86–89.
Odum, P. E., 1973, Ecology: New York, Holt, Rinehardt and Winston.
Pomeroy, L. R., 1959, Algal productivity in Georgia salt marshes: Limnol. Oceanogr., v. 4, p. 386–397.
Pritchard, D. W., 1967, Estuaries: A.A.A.S. publ. 83, Washington, D.C., 253 p.
Riley, G. A., 1963, Organic aggregates in sea water and dynamics of their formation and utilization: Limnol. Oceanogr., v. 8, p. 372–381.
Ryther, J. H., 1969, Photosynthesis and fish production in the sea: Science, 166, p. 72–76.
Sverdrup, H. V., M. W. Johnson, and R. Fleming, 1942, The oceans, their physics, chemistry and general biology: Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cendrero, A., Díaz de Terán, J.R. & Salinas, J.M. Environmental-economic evaluation of the filling and reclamation process in the bay of Santander, Spain. Geo 3, 325–336 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02473522
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02473522