Shoreline management and coastal erosion

Shoreline management plans, which are part of integrated coastal management, are non-statutory plans developed by voluntary coastal defense groups through consensus. They deal with actual and potential coastal changes such as erosion and their relation to planned and existing coastal developments and activities. Erosion can result from natural (e.g., waves and tides) or human activities. Shoreline management requires understanding how the hydraulics of a coastal area, through interaction with the bed and beach materials in the area, lead to coastal processes. This has an important role to play in developing sustainable management of the coastal zone.