It is declared that much of the wetlands of this State have been lost or despoiled by unregulated dredging, dumping, filling and like activities and that the remaining wetlands of this State are in jeopardy of being lost or despoiled by these and other activities; that such loss or despoliation will adversely affect, if not entirely eliminate, the value of such wetlands as sources of nutrients to finfish, crustacea and shellfish of significant economic value; that such loss or despoliation will destroy such wetlands as habitats for plants and animals of significant economic and ecological value and will eliminate or substantially reduce marine commerce, recreation and aesthetic enjoyment; that such loss or despoliation will, in most cases, disturb the natural ability of wetlands to reduce flood damage and adversely affect the public health and welfare; that such loss or despoliation will substantially reduce the capacity of such wetlands to absorb silt and will thus result in the increased silting of channels and harbor areas to the detriment of free navigation, and that such loss or despoliation substantially impairs our resiliency as a state to withstand the impacts of climate change. It is hereby determined that the transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of Delaware, and the wetlands in or about such areas of Delaware, are critical areas for the present and future quality of life in this State and that the preservation of tidal and nontidal wetlands is crucial to the protection of the natural environment. Therefore, it is declared to be the public policy of this State to preserve and protect the productive public and private wetlands and to prevent their despoliation and destruction consistent with the historic right of private ownership of lands, to attain, through a combination of permitting, mitigation and other strategies, a statewide goal of no net overall loss in wetland acreage and function from human-driven activity, and to strive for a net resource gain in wetlands over present conditions.

7 Del. C. 1953, § 6602; 59 Del. Laws, c. 213, § 1; 85 Del. Laws, c. 351, § 1