Saltwater intrusion, which can be facilitated by natural conditions, human activities and climate change, is a big threat to mankind from social-economic, environmental and ecological perspective. Agriculture, the largest consumer of water, is identified as both contributor and most vulnerable sector to saltwater intrusion, especially in coastal low-lying areas, with the increasing demands and competition of water owing to economic bloom, population growth and climate fluctuations. Sustainable water resource management is urgently needed owing to its essential in solving this issue. Hence this study is to deliver the understanding of linkage between saltwater ingress and agriculture and seek appropriate water resource management strategies in coastal low-lying areas to address saltwater intrusion and reduce its impacts on agriculture. This study conducts a comparative case study between Texel, the Netherlands and Shouguang, China to specify the linkages between saltwater intrusion and agriculture with local features. The reasons, impacts and associated mitigations and/or adaptations of the issue, together with the legislation of each region have been investigated and compared. The results show that for combating the saltwater intrusion and reducing the losses from agriculture, both study areas have adapted specific approaches. Among them similar approaches, despite different legislations and policies, such as developing alternative water resource (treated wastewater and rainwater) and saline agriculture are implemented by both of the regions. Through the comparison, each can learn the lessons from the other. The integrated water legislation together with its effective implementation, the strong involvements of different stakeholders and ecological approach to post-treat effluent of Texel can no doubt inspire Shouguang. While the highlights of counteract measures taken by Shouguang such separating rainwater from wastewater during collection and treatment, water diversion and development of special market to ...