Estuarine management in northeast Brazil: the estuarine complex of Itamaraca

The estuarine complex of Itamaraca (Northeast, Brazil) has been the subject of a research programme integrating different disciplines. Substantial kno wledge base was established concerning natural resources, the socio-economi c situation and the interactions among them. A conceptual model was designe d in which the ecological features are presented, considering primarily the dynamics caused by the inflow of saline and brackish water, the export of dissolved matter and particles produced by mangrove, as well as the interac tions with the biota. The model has made possible a number of policy recomm endations that should guide the management and control actions.