The transdisciplinary research synthesised in this book represents an endeavour by a group of coastal researchers and policy analysts to learn from a cross-comparison of seven international case studies on tidal inlet or estuary mouth management situations, located in South Africa, Sri Lanka, California, Suriname, Ireland and the Netherlands. The conceptual framing is provided by a focus on systems knowledge and its development and use within coastal management.

This book is intended for:
• Transdisciplinary scholars who are interested in interdisciplinary learning and knowledge exchange,
• Policy analysts, environmental historians and coastal policy specialists who are interested in the role of science in the evolution of coastal policy and management,
• Coastal scientists and engineers interested in the dynamics of tidal inlets and estuary mouths,
• Coastal managers looking to learn about tidal inlet and mouth management practices
• Educators focussed on interdisciplinary skills or interested in using the case studies in coastal, management and engineering classes or as the basis for problem structuring exercises by policy students, and
• Students interested in coastal systems management and wanting to broaden their interdisciplinary competence.

We trust that this endeavour will inspire others to undertake transdisciplinary learning and contribute to wise coastal research and practice.

Ports provide an essential link to the world market, enabling countries to trade their goods and strengthen their economies. However, the global and regional benefits of port developments do not always translate into benefits to local stakeholders. There is often a mismatch between the positive global and regional effects of port development and the impacts that can be experienced locally. Port development requires a paradigm shift from a conventional economic and engineering oriented approach to a stakeholder-inclusive and environmentally, economically and socially integrated approach to become sustainable. The research project ‘Integrated and Sustainable Port Development in Ghana within an African Context’ aims to learn how to develop integrated and sustainable African ports that meet economic, social and environmental needs now and in the future. The Port of Tema, which has evolved from a small fishing village to Ghana’s leading industrial centre and seaport in the last decades, forms the focal case study of the research. A specific objective of the governance component of the project is to find out what local stakeholders value as a sustainable port. This book is an outcome of this endeavor, seeking to present and share the voices of a range of stakeholders on Tema and its port.