Management of estuarine beaches on the Amazon coast though the application of recreational carrying capacity indices

•A specific approach based on the RCC model was adopted for estuarine beaches.•Local human pressures have impacted both the quality of the beaches and their carrying capacity.•The principal problems are a lack of infrastructure or a public sanitation system.•Major investments in services are needed to guarantee the recreational experience.•The specific methodology adopted in this study can be used for other Amazon beach.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the Recreational Carrying Capacity of three estuarine beaches (Colares, Marudá and Murubira) on the Amazon coast of Brazil, based on the combined assessment of natural conditions and visitor facilities. In the final analysis, the carrying capacity of Colares beach was estimated to be 1089 visitors per day, and that of Murubira beach, 238 visitors per day. At Marudá beach, however, the inadequate quality of the water resulted in an RCC of zero, indicating that the beach should not be visited for recreational use. The results of this study may provide a valuable diagnostic tool for the development of future state and municipal coastal management programs. We believe that the procedures adopted in this study are applicable to other estuarine beaches on the Amazon coast, as well as in other estuarine beaches elsewhere with similar natural characteristics.