Coastal Management Strategies

Overview

Coastal management strategies are essential for protecting coastlines from erosion and managing human activities that affect coastal areas. The strategies can be broadly divided into hard engineering and soft engineering approaches.

Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs)

• Aim to safeguard specific coastal segments without causing problems elsewhere.
• Coasts are divided into natural units called sediment cells.
• Local governments decide on the best management approach.
• Some areas may be allowed to erode while others are protected.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)

• Seeks to manage all aspects of the coastal system including marine areas, land, human activities, and economic interests.
• Aims to balance the protection and utilization of coastlines.
• Recognizes the interdependence of marine and land systems, and varying stakeholder interests.

Hard Engineering Coastal Management

• Groynes: Barriers built perpendicular to the shoreline to trap sediment moved by longshore drift, helping build up beaches.
  • Advantages: Build up beaches, reduce erosion locally.
  • Disadvantages: Can cause increased erosion further down the coast, visually unappealing.
• Revetments: Sloping structures placed on banks or cliffs to absorb wave energy.
  • Advantages: Reduce wave energy, blend with the natural environment.
  • Disadvantages: Expensive, may disrupt natural processes.
• Sea Walls: Solid barriers built parallel to the shore to absorb wave energy.
  • Advantages: Strong protection against storms, provide walkways.
  • Disadvantages: Expensive, can cause seabed scouring.
• Gabions: Wire cages filled with rocks to absorb and deflect wave energy.
  • Advantages: Cheap, easy to construct.
  • Disadvantages: Wire may corrode, visually intrusive.
• Riprap (Rock Armour): Large interlocking boulders along the shore to absorb wave energy.
  • Advantages: Durable, low maintenance.
  • Disadvantages: Costly, may interfere with natural processes.

Soft Engineering Coastal Management

• Works with natural processes to stabilize coastlines.
• Beach Replenishment: Importing sand to restore eroded beaches.
  • Advantages: Enhances beach appearance and use, buffers storm waves.
  • Disadvantages: Temporary, expensive.
• Cliff Regrading: Reshaping cliffs to reduce landslide and erosion risks.
  • Advantages: Reduces landslide risk, can be natural-looking.
  • Disadvantages: Expensive, may lead to habitat loss.
• Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Revegetation: Restoring vegetation to improve stability and biodiversity.
  • Advantages: Enhances ecological value, stabilizes soil.
  • Disadvantages: Requires maintenance, may be affected by climate change.
• Managed Retreat: Allows natural shoreline movement, relocating structures from risk areas.
  • Advantages: Develops natural habitats, cost-effective long-term.
  • Disadvantages: Unpopular with landowners, high initial costs.

Summary

• SMPs and ICZM are strategic approaches to managing coastlines.
• Hard engineering methods provide strong immediate protection but can be costly and disruptive.
• Soft engineering methods are more environmentally friendly and sustainable, but may require ongoing maintenance and local ecosystem understanding.
• Effective coastal management often requires a blend of both hard and soft approaches, tailored to local needs and conditions.