The 10th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium from October to November 2000 brought more than 200 scientists and policy officials to Groningen. The symposium had been organised with the object of realising a tangible scientific contribution to the 2001 Trilateral Intergovernmental Conference which was held in Esbjerg. The theme of the symposium was 'Challenges to the Wadden Sea Area: finding a balance between economic and ecological values'. The lectures addressed cultural and economic aspects of climate change, different aspects of salt marsh management and shellfish fisheries and their effects on birds, an overview of the experiences with the Wadden Sea targets and a possible inclusion of socio-economic targets and methods to integrate socio-economic and ecological coastal policy making.