Coastal Management

What are the two types of Coastal Management?

1. The hard engineering approach (structural approach/ building
something):
- The construction of physical structures to defend against erosive
power of waves.
- Types:
o Seawalls
Built along the coast to absorb the energy of waves
before they can cause erosion.
They can be made of concrete, rocks, or wood.
They are especially effective in protecting cliffs form
erosion.
They cannot prevent the backwash of the refracted
waves from washing away beach materials beneath
the walls. This undermines the base of the seawalls
and they collapse.
Seawalls are costly to build and maintain
o Breakwaters
Can be built with one end attached to the coast or
away from the coast.
They break the force of high energy waves before
they reach the shore.
When constructed offshore, it can create a zone of
calm water behind them and allow deposition to
occur, forming beaches.
Materials deposited behind the breakwater are
protected but the zone located away from the
breakwater is not.
It will not receive new supplies of materials and it will
get eroded away.
o Groynes
They are built at right angles to the shore to prevent
longshore drift.
They absorb or reduce the energy of waves and
cause materials to be deposited on the side of the
groyne facing the longshore drift.
However, erosion can occur at places not protected
by it.

2. Soft engineering approach (non-structural approach/ not building

anything):
- Focuses on planning and management so that both coastal areas
and properties will not be damaged by erosion
- Aims at changing individual behavior or attitudes towards coastal
protection by encouraging minimal human interference.
- Types:
o Beach Nourishment
The constant replenishment of large quantities of
sand to the beach system.
The beach is extended seawards, which leads to the
improvement of beach quality and storm protection.
It is costly to transport large quantities of sand to fill
up the beach and sufficient sand is needed.
Sand being eroded and transported away by waves
and wind can affect wildlife. Example: Coral reefs at
Waikiki Beach in Hawaii
o Relocation of Properties
No building of properties is allowed in coastal areas
vulnerable to coastal erosion.
The east coast of England has a green line policy
that discourage building located beyond it.
With the danger of increasing sea levels due to
global warming
o Planting of mangroves
Mangroves with their prop roots help trap sediments
and reduce coastal erosion.
As mangrove communities grow seawards, they
extend the coastal land seawards.
o Stabilizing dunes
Access points to the beach should be controlled and
designated so as not to be disturbed by human
traffic.
Shrubs and trees can be planted
o Growth of coral reefs
Artificial reefs can be created by placing
environmentally friendly and long-lived materials like
steel or concrete on the sea floor.
Once the material is put in place, living organisms
start to grow on it.
Man-made reefs are as productive as natural reefs in
enhancing fishing opportunities and serve as

undersea barriers to reduce the impact of wave

energy.