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Research over the last 20 years has had a major focus on the ecology of east coast estuaries, including the interaction between coastal seawater and saltmarshes. It is not possible to separate intertidal coastal saltmarshes from the rest of the coastal marine environment as they are involved in a truly interactive system. The significance of this system is attracting increasing attention as the effect of elevated nutrient concentrations on the ecology of the coastal zone has become apparent. It is only when we understand how the various chemical and biological processes influence the flux of nutrients through the estuarine interface between land and sea that any sensible management strategy can be developed.