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The availability of water, employment, and other essential resources has fueled rapid population growth in low-elevation coastal zones (LECZ). The current coastal reservoir concept is outdated and requires improvement to address rising challenges. Coastal reservoirs are sustainable sources of water, but their conservation is vital due to rapid population growth in low-elevation coastal zones. This paper analyzes the impacts of hydrocarbon spills on bluffs and shallow slopes, which pose a serious threat to the environment. The authors propose a new framework for coastal reservoirs that incorporates two crucial factors and aims to resolve current issues. The proposed framework integrates dynamic water behavior and hydrocarbon redistribution, which can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of coastal reservoir systems. The authors emphasize the importance of updating the current framework to ensure sustainable water management practices. The paper provides a solution by constructing a densely compressed clay barrier that prevents oil infiltration or mingling beyond the designated buffer zone on the shoreline, thus preventing sand contamination with oil. A buoyant boom can be placed in front of a dam wall or semipermeable curtain to prevent oil from entering the reservoir. This proactive strategy effectively confines any oil leaks that may occur in the ocean and hinders their progression towards the reservoir, while also safeguarding shoreline slopes, marine life, and ecosystems. • The need to revise the existing approach for Coastal reservoir management. • Dynamic water behavior affects soil suction and hydrocarbon redistribution. • Proactive strategies, such as buoyant booms, can prevent oil from entering reservoirs. • The proposed framework includes two critical factors for improved management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscape of coastal planning is being transformed by the emergence of new scales of informal planning both alongside and between established statutory planning frameworks. As informal planning arrangements seldom operate within an institutional vacuum, they are frequently confronted by the path-dependent influence of pre-existing statutory planning institutions. However, there remains a marked dearth of knowledge surrounding the interplay between formal legal planning frameworks and informal planning arrangements at the coast. In response to this lacuna, the current paper endeavours to expand the existing comprehension of the influence of formal legal planning frameworks on informal planning processes at the coast by amalgamating legal geographical insights with the expanding discourse surrounding the function of actors' ontological understandings of space in structuring power relations and discursive interaction within planning processes. These insights are applied to a focussed case study of the operation of an informal planning process, the Milnerton Erosion Forum, at Milnerton, a coastal suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The empirical findings presented in this article demonstrate the involvement of legal planning frameworks in constituting space and structuring power dynamics among actors at Milnerton, as well as the ways in which spatialised legal power is mobilised to influence socio-spatial decision-making within informal planning processes through actors' ontological understandings and representations of places-to-be-planned. Through visibilisng the dialectical relationship between law, space and the power to plan at Milnerton, this article offers nuanced insights into the complex interplay between legal planning frameworks and informal planning practices at the coast. • Case study investigates the interplay between legal planning frameworks and informal planning practices. • Dialectical relationship between law, space and the power to plan. • Legal planning frameworks constitute actors' understandings of coastal space. • Spatialised legal power is mobilised through place-frames. • Spatio-legal place-frames impede adaptive potential of informal coastal planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate risks threaten the coastal areas all over the world. In the case of India, which has a densely populated coastline of 7516.6 km, developing effective policies and management strategies to cope with the current and future climate risks is imperative. The paper attempts to identify the major climate risks faced by coastal India through a systematic literature review between 1991 and 2022. Cyclones, Sea Level Rise, Floods, and Rainfall extremes accounted for more than 60 percent of the climate risks/issues on the Indian coast, with more pronounced incidences in the eastern coastal states than the western coastal states. We further analysed how different acts and policies associated with coastal management have addressed climate risks through a qualitative assessment of climate action plans of the Indian coastal states following the concept matrix approach. The results revealed that though a national-level policy is absent specifically for addressing coastal climate risks and adaptation, the coastal states have specific components on coastal vulnerabilities and adaptation. Further review of different states' disaster management acts, and policies emphasized the need for micro-level planning for climate-inclusive disaster management and building capacities of the concerned officials. The review of the evolution of coastal zone management in India revealed that there has been a dilution in the conservation of coastal ecosystems and reduction of no development zone under the pretext of enhancing livelihoods. The overall analysis of the national and state action plans, disaster management policies, and coastal regulation zone notifications in India shows that there is a need to include emerging climate risks in integrated planning and promote synergy amongst different sectors and institutions related to coastal governance and blue economy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a quantitative and qualitative diagnosis of the current state of marine litter along the northern coastline of Agadir, located on the central Atlantic coast of Morocco. For this, three beaches were surveyed: Taghazout beach, Aourir beach, and Anza beach. Litter densities were highest at Anza beach (D = 1.041 items/m2), followed by Aourir beach (D = 0.339 items/m2), and then Taghazout beach (D = 0.226 items/m2). Plastics represent 79% of all collected items, and they are mainly composed of caps/lids, food containers, other plastic, cigarette butts and filters, polystyrene pieces, small plastic bags, and drink bottles. Metal is the second litter item in number, followed by paper/cardboard, rubber, cloth/textile, wood, and glass/ceramic. The Clean Coast Index (CCI) shows a clean and moderately clean state in the Taghazout and Aourir beaches, while Anza beach is more polluted. The EA/NALG classification showed that all three beaches are classified as "D," i.e., dirty or poor-quality beaches. Dendrogram analysis showed very highly polluted areas (Anza 1), highly polluted areas (Taghazout 4 and 5; Anza 2; Aourir 3), moderately polluted areas (Taghazout 1 and 2; Aourir 1), and lightly polluted areas (Taghazout 3). Based on the obtained results, we can conclude that tourism and recreational activities were the primary source of marine litter (over 50%), followed by fishing activity (25%). Efforts are necessary to improve the quality of beaches located on the central Atlantic coast of Morocco. The typology of solutions suggested in this work can be divided into four approaches: cleaning, prevention, mitigation, and the most important ... behavior change. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The papers in this VSI describe major results from the Coastal Genesis 2 research programme in the Netherlands. • Coastal Genesis 2 aimed at the development of a future-proof long-term coastal management strategy. • Three types of papers are included: policy development, lower shoreface, and Wadden Sea tidal inlet systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Buy to protect": this may be the Conservatoire du Littoral philosophy. Since 1975, this unique public French institution endeavours to acquire vulnerable and threatened coastal areas of great natural relevance to ensure their permanent and sound management/protection by establishing conventions with local authorities. This paper is focused on (i) the research of remarkable attractive natural sites not (or only slightly) affected by human intrusions, (ii) the analysis of the Conservatoire policies related to landscape issues and (iii) the proposal of judicious measures to assess/maintain/enhance/monitor landscape quality. For such proposals, the Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES) method was in situ applied along the northern French coast, from Belgium to the Seine estuary. This area, shaped in a macrotidal environment, was chosen as it exhibits a wide variety of scenery composed of majestic dunes complexes, estuaries, bays and impressive cliff formations, alongside a strong cultural heritage. It also includes some world-renowned sites such as Les Deux Caps (Gris-Nez and Blanc-Nez), the Somme Bay and the cliffs of Étretat. CSES is a strong accurate indicator of scenic quality based on 26 physical and human parameters, and fuzzy-logic mathematics to overcome subjectivity and quantify uncertainties. As a result, an Evaluation Index (D) is obtained, enabling to classify sites into five distinct classes, from Class I (outstanding quality) to Class V (very poor quality). In this paper, 16 sectors respectively located along the Côte d'Opale (8), Côte Picarde (4) and Côte d'Albâtre (4) were selected after a long process of field testing. Seven were included in Class I, five in Class II and four in Class III. Finally, suggestions were made to complete the remarkable labour done by the Conservatoire. • This paper is focused on the assessment of very attractive natural coastal sites. • Sixteen sites were field-tested by using the Coastal Scenic Evaluation System. • Seven sites were included in Class I, five in Class II and four in Class III. • Emphasis was given to the Conservatoire du Littoral management approach. • Suggestions were made to complete the remarkable labour done by the Conservatoire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine spatial planning (MSP) represents a critical tool for the worldwide design of coastal development and protection strategies. China, as one of the pioneers in establishing comprehensive MSP policies, has created a well-developed marine planning structure—known as the "multi-rule-in-one"—with Marine Functional Zoning (MFZ) serving as a cornerstone for the country's coastal economic and environmental development. Despite its significance, limited studies have presented the practical application of MSP/MFZ policies upon tourism exploitation in coastal regions. This paper fills this research gap by thoroughly examining China's marine planning structure, the implementation of provincial MFZ policy, and the operational mechanisms of these strategies. The analysis focuses on the Xiasha Beach Resort, a case study exemplifying the coordinated efforts required among governments, scientists, and the public for the successful implementation of MFZ policy. Findings from the Xiasha Beach Resort highlight the importance of robust tourist market management, a shift from hard seawall structures towards more eco-friendly alternatives, and a high degree of collaboration among key stakeholders. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of ecosystem-based restoration technology that maintains the integrity of the beach-dune system, fosters diverse vegetation, and encourages adaptive measures such as environmental capacity control. The sustainability of the MSP approach hinges on wide and diverse public participation, as national MSP policies foster trust, credit, and feedback from local citizens, promoting necessary policy adjustments. In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights for domestic and international regions seeking to harmonize MSP operations to achieve high-quality coastal economic development and environmental protection targets. • Successful implementation of marine functional zoning policy in coastal tourism exploitation. • Collaborative efforts of governments, scientists, and the public for effective marine spatial planning. • Ecosystem-based restoration technologies for coastal planning are applied in Xiasha Beach Resort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceans and coasts provide important ecosystem, livelihood, and cultural values to humans and the planet but face current and future compounding threats from anthropogenic activities associated with expanding populations and their use of and reliance on these environments. To respond to and mitigate these threats, there is a need to first systematically understand and categorise them. This paper reviewed 226 articles from the period 2010–2020 on threats to Australia's oceans and coasts, resulting in the identification of a total of 307 threats. Threats were grouped into three broad categories — threats from use and extraction; environmental and human-induced threats; and policy and socio-political threats —then ranked by frequency. The most common 'threats from use and extraction' were recreational activities, non-point source pollution, and urban development; the most common 'environmental and human-induced threat' was increased temperatures; and the most common 'policy and socio-political threat' was policy gaps and failures (e.g., a lack of coastal climate adaptation policies). The identification of threats across all three categories increased over time; however, the identification of 'threats from use and extraction' increased most rapidly over the last four years (2017–2020). Threats were most often described for their impacts on environmental values (68%), followed by economic (14%), socio-cultural (12%), and Indigenous (6%) values. Only 45 of the 226 papers (20%) discussed multiple threats. The threats facing Australia's oceans and coasts are rising, cumulative, and multi-faceted, and the inherent tensions between varied uses, along with intensification of uses that derive short-term anthropogenic benefit, will continue to degrade the ecological sustainability of ocean and coastal systems if actions are not taken. [Display omitted] • Threats to Australia's oceans and coasts described in the academic literature from 2010 to 2020 were systematically reviewed. • 307 threats were identified across three categories, with most threats in the group "environmental and human-induced threats". • Threats were described as impacting environmental (68%), economic (14%), socio-cultural (12%), and Indigenous (6%) values. • Only 45 of the 226 papers (20%) discussed multiple threats. • Findings highlight the cumulative and multi-faceted threats facing Australian oceans and coasts that must be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal protection measures and management play an important role in coping with coastal disasters and climate-induced sea-level rise. In this study, the success and failure of typical coastal protection works of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) are reported and documented from field observations over a study period of 10–15 years. The coastal protection structures evaluated include revetments, geotubes, t-shaped bamboo fences, Pile-rock breakwaters, Busadco's breakwaters, Semi-Circular breakwaters, and Hollow triangle breakwaters. This paper briefly reviews the current situation of coastline erosion problem and accretion in the VMD and illustrates the severity of the current erosion rate that threatens the safety of coastal communities. The paper then evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of various coastal management approaches currently in practice in the VMD to classify different types of possible measures for coastal management with the aim to find holistic measures for planning which require low construction investment. Integrated coastal management and planning are outlined at a regional scale followed by the lessons learned from the previous coastal protection works, and finally the multiple lines of defense (MLD) solution is proposed, which is a green infrastructure inspired nature-based solution. The MLD solution can improve biodiversity, facilitate mangrove forest restoration, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for local communities. Integrated coastal planning and management solutions that are based on the MLD principle are expected to withstand coastal disasters under future climate change, and sea-level rise on the VMD. [Display omitted] • Review of coastal erosion/accretion issues and protection measures in the VMD. • Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of coastal protection methods. • Measures for integrated and sustainable coastal management are classified. • Multiple lines of defense solution proposed for climate change adaption in the VMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal cities play a leading role in world development; however, they are highly vulnerable to natural disasters given their specific locations and rapid urbanization pace. Characterizing the social vulnerability of coastal cities to hazards should provide critical references for coastal management. This paper developed a composite social vulnerability index (SVI) for Chinese coastal cities by integrating 17 indices from three aspects (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) that shaped the vulnerability of urban society to hazards; and then verified SVI effectiveness by quantifying its correlation with the total economic loss of hazards. Social vulnerability patterns along the Chinese coast in 2000, 2005 and 2010 were then obtained. Results showed that cities around the Bohai Bay generally presented lower SVI values in the three years. Cities in the eastern and southeastern coast generally had higher SVI values in space but became lower with time. Conversely, SVI values became higher for cities in Hainan and Guangxi Province. The clustering approach categorized the 53 cities into different groups according to their profiles of vulnerability. These categorized groups could facilitate more targeted coastal management options. This paper highlighted that adaption should be incorporated in analyzing the reaction of urban society to hazards. The SVI was believed to be an applicable and reliable tool to inform coastal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, Rio, 1992), theories and concepts of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) have been further developed and thus have promoted the implementation of ICM worldwide. As a major maritime country, China attaches great importance to ocean governance and started its implementation of ICM in 1994 when China joined the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas for the first time. In the last two decades or so, while implementing and scaling up ICM in cooperation with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), the authors found that the local government-based ICM with active participation of all stakeholders is a suitable integrated coastal management approach for China. This is actually an adaptive ICM with Chinese characteristics—integrated coastal governance (ICG). In this paper, the authors illustrate the characteristics of ICM implemented in China with a positive analysis of the practice of ICM in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. To break down the barriers among sectors in the implementation of ICM, the municipal government established a special leading group (ad-hoc committee) to exercise the centralized leadership of the Government for leading the implementation. Though there was not significant participation of NGOs in the implementation of ICM, the broad public participation under the leadership of the local government laid the groundwork for the success. Finally, this paper gives a discussion on possibilities for further improvement of China's ocean governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal development rights are fuzzy, complex and difficult to define, making it difficult to accurately calculate the value of the limited development rights. We calculated the willingness to accept (WTA) in different confined zones using the expectation function model. We also obtained the preferences and local farmer willingness to pay (WTP) for the ecological service functions of mangroves by using the choice experiment. The amount of opportunity loss is used as the WTA, and the difference between the WTA and WTP is regarded as the compensation amount. These approaches can mitigate the large perceptual bias of the object and limitations of coastal development rights. The value of the opportunity loss under development limitations is set as the upper limit of compensation, and farmers' WTP for ecosystem services is set as the lower limit of compensation. We conclude that the levels of compensation in strongly and weakly confined zones should be Cny 2083.09 per household per year and CNY 1663.98 per household per year, respectively. The government needs to clarify the ownership of coastal development rights, fully understand the livelihood dependence of local people, and alleviate the contradiction between economic development and ecological protection. To some extent, this paper enriches the research on the development rights in coastal zones. • Mitigating perceptual bias is the key to measure compensation. • The expectation function model can be used to calculate lost development opportunities. • The choice experiment is used to calculate the willingness to pay under restrictions. • Compensation in strongly and weakly confined zones should be CNY 2083 and 1663. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) are used in coastal zone planning in Norway to assess how changed area-use can impact a variety of uses and interests and make recommendations for trade-off decisions between them. The transparency and consistency of the SEAs are important for their throughput legitimacy. This paper analyses how the set up and practices of SEA processes affect their transparency and consistency, how they can be improved, and what trade-offs there may be between the two. This is based on cases studies of SEAs in two intermunicipal planning processes involving 143 proposed aquaculture areas in 18 municipalities in Northern Norway. Marine aquaculture in the form of salmon farming has grown into a major industry on the Norwegian coast, and there are ambitions for further growth. Salmon farming is a major driver for coastal zone planning in Norway as many municipalities hope it will provide jobs and income and fish farms must be placed in accordance with municipal coastal zone plans. The paper specifically analyses how proposed aquaculture areas were handled in the SEAs, including their knowledge base, assessment methods used and actual trade-offs, and how this impact transparency and consistency. Consistency is considered both across geographies and SEA processes and through the individual SEA processes. For « Transparent and consistent? Impact assessing and trading-off aquaculture in coastal zone planning in Norway». [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Pacific small island states characteristically have relatively small land areas but large maritime zones that include biodiversity hotspots, fragile ecosystems and unique habitats affected by anthropogenic impacts and natural pressures. Whilst there are differences between these nations in terms of geography, history, and politico-legal systems, the majority are developing countries with limited technical and financial resources to implement laws for marine conservation and management. Despite these limitations all the small island states have laws for marine protected areas (MPAs) in one form or another. Because these countries also rely heavily on the coastal zone and marine resources in terms of subsistence and livelihoods for local communities, the extent to which the law accommodates civil society interests, and involvement in decision-making and management, is critical. Although some studies have explored law and policy relevant to MPAs in individual countries, rarely have countries across the Indo-Pacific region been compared. By doing so, different approaches and success stories can be shared, as well as legislative gaps and challenges addressed. This paper outlines the legal frameworks that provide for the establishment and management of MPAs in a selection of small island states across the Indo Pacific. The laws have been comparatively analysed to demonstrate the extent to which they provide for public participation and community-based management. The results are presented together with lessons learnt and recommendations made for future legal developments. The article, therefore, contributes to the growing body of literature on MPA governance, marine management in island States, and how to advance social sustainability. MPAs are an important tool for marine and coastal conservation, and law plays an important role in their establishment and management. Overcoming community tensions, and garnering public support for MPAs, is critical if they are to achieve they conservation and management goals. Laws that provide for MPAs must therefore include provisions that facilitate environmental goals, whilst also providing opportunities for community engagement. Comparative analysis of Indo-Pacific island States is used to identify best practice legal options to enhance public participation in MPA governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Consideration of whether to completely remove an oil and gas production platform from the seafloor or to leave the submerged jacket as a reef is an imminent decision for California, as a number of offshore platforms in both state and federal waters are in the early stages of decommissioning. Laws require that a platform at the end of its production life be totally removed unless the submerged jacket section continues as a reef under state sponsorship. Consideration of the eventual fate of the populations of fishes and invertebrates beneath platforms has led to global reefing of the jacket portion of platforms instead of removal at the time of decommissioning. The construction and use of artificial reefs are centuries old and global in nature using a great variety of materials. The history that led to the reefing option for platforms begins in the mid-20th century in an effort for general artificial reefs to provide both fishing opportunities and increase fisheries production for a burgeoning U.S. population. The trend toward reefing platforms at end of their lives followed after the oil and gas industry installed thousands of standing platforms in the Gulf of Mexico where they had become popular fishing destinations. The National Fishing Enhancement Act and subsequent National Artificial Reef Plan laid the foundation for Rig-to-Reefs. Reefing platforms in the Gulf of Mexico is a well-established practice that is also applied globally. Deliberation of reefing decommissioned platforms and many years of scientific study beneath California platforms has culminated in a California State law that now allows consideration of the concept. This paper summarizes the history, practices, published science, and available information involved when considering the reefing option. It is hoped that this material will inform the public, policy makers, and regulators about their upcoming decisions. Highlights • Artificial reefs are an old and global idea to raise fishing prospects and fisheries production. • Rigs-to-Reefs converts decommissioned oil and gas platforms into artificial reefs. • Reefing old oil and gas platforms is done globally where offshore production has been developed. • Oil platforms off California are among the most productive marine fish habitats. • California must decide whether to reef old platforms or removal them from coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Algeria as the Mediterranean countries is facing various challenges. Among them, the increasing of the population and their activities in the coastal zone, which impacts heavily the coastal and marine environment. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has been seen as an appropriate approach to tackle this situation. Algeria has set up numerous initiatives to strengthen its coastal governance, such as the Coastal Area Management Plan (CAMP) in the Algiers Coastal zone (ACZ) situated in the central part of Algeria. Also, various legal and institutional reinforcement have been done, like the enactment of a coastal law and the creation of agencies dedicated to coastal management. Even if assessment is seen as primordial in this process, yet few evaluations have been done in Algeria and particularly on the ACZ. This research paper aims is to assess the ICZM process in Algeria. A survey has been done with the various stakeholders involved in Coastal management at the different level of governance; national, regional and local in the ACZ. The objective was to assess the institutional capacities to implement the fundaments of ICZM. 7 parameters have been assessed: Data, interesectoriality, participation, legal framework, Capacity building, awareness and financial resources. A score for each parameter was set by the interviewees. Results shows that even some basements framework are now implemented, Algeria has still a long way to fully implement ICZM approach. Mainly regarding data management and the implementation of coastal monitoring systems, enhancing the coordination and participation of stakeholders, particularly the local communities and NGO's. The legal framework even it strengthening, a lot of efforts are still to be done for it real enforcement. The awareness and capacity building are still insufficient. Finally, sustainable funding for ICZM projects must be ensured. Highlights • The Algerian Coast is facing many environmental challenges. • Integrated Coastal Zone management (ICZM) has been seen as an appropriate approach to tackle these challenges. • ICZM process in the Algiers Coast has been assessed through the institutional capacities to implement ICZM principals. • Even though considerable efforts have been made, Algeria has still a long way to go to implement fully ICZM approach. • Focusing on Institutional capacities permits to highlight the critical aspect of governance to a better implementation ICZM process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper mapped 29 coastal cities of a state in Southern Brazil to verify the impact of human interventions. • The strongest impacts are the change in beach topography, reduction of the beach width and useable areas for settlement. • The identified impacts are constant in the regions that have shown development of coastal structures in the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones are historically rich with unique land/seascapes, tangible artifacts, and intangible cultural heritage. Coastal and maritime cultural heritage (CMCH) contends with various constraining conditions of the sea and shore—both geophysical and socially constructed—which we delineate to identify risks and threats to its sustainable management. In response to calls for the greater incorporation of CMCH in the name of regional development and blue growth, we propose a conceptual framework as a means to identify risks and sustainably manage CMCH. We develop the concepts of communities of meaning and communities of participation to address how CMCH is created and contested and identify key considerations for its management. Building on theories of space, place, and identity, the paper constructs communities of meaning in order to elaborate the various opportunities but also tensions in preserving CH and cultivating reliant enterprises as a part of wider regional development strategies. Working from this understanding of place and identity in degrees of inclusivity/exclusivity, the paper draws upon literature on deliberative and participatory governance, framed as communities of participation. These two concepts provide a vocabulary for managers to address calls for the promotion of CMCH and determine appropriate management strategies and governance based on policy objectives and the will of potentially multiple communities of meaning. • Conditions of seas and coasts impact the risks and resilience of cultural heritage. • Coastal and maritime cultural heritage can divide and/or unite coastal communities. • Communities of meaning comprise diverse actors with concern for cultural heritage. • Cultural heritage governance must anticipate in-built tensions in its designation. • Managers should address power in participatory and deliberative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to global sulfur emission restrictions, China has established sulfur emission control areas in its coastal areas. This has a huge impact on China's coastal shipping ships. These ships can adopt the following three sulfur abatement options to deal with it: (1) using low-sulfur fuel, (2) using an exhaust gas cleaning system, and (3) using alternative fuel Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This paper has established two models from two different perspectives to analyze the differences of abatement options between the shipowners and the general public. Sensitivity analyses are carried out on the factors affecting the sulfur abatement options, including remaining lifespan of ships, ship power, initial cost of sulfur abatement options, and fluctuations in the price of fuel. By analyzing the impact of these factors on the choice of the shipowners to reduce sulfur emission, this paper proposes some incentives and subsidy policies accordingly, which can provide references for policymakers. [Display omitted] • This paper optimizes sulfur abatement options in sulfur emission control areas novelly. • It has established two models respectively in two different perspectives, namely the ship owners and the general public. • A Chinese case is conducted to illustrate the models' applications. • Incentive policies are proposed to inspire shipowners to choose options that are environmentally friendly and cost efficient. • This paper can provide the references for policy makers. • To our knowledge, till now, there is no literature doing this kind of research due to its latest happening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Coastal tourism developed along the Valparaíso region of Chile is being threatened by a very particular issue: scenery degradation related to extreme urbanization and collateral effects. This paper presents the results of scenic evaluation of 96 sites along this region. The scenic evaluation assesses values from a checklist of 18 physical and 8 human parameters, and permits calculation of a scenic evaluation index (D Value), which classifies coastal sites into five classes: Class I, usually natural areas of top scenic characteristics, to Class V, poor scenic natural areas with a higher impact of human interventions. In summary, 14 sites (15%) appeared in Class I; 7 (7%) in Class II; 9 (9%) in Class III; 17 (18%) in Class IV and 49 sites (51%) in Class V. This evaluation provides a complete scenic assessment overview of the Valparaiso Region, allowing implementation of an adequate management strategy based on knowledge of coastal scenery for the maintenance and preservation of scenic quality. Highlights • The Valparaíso Region's coastline region is a popular crescent destination for many national and international tourists. • The Valparaíso region of Chile is being threatened by a very particular issue: scenery degradation. • Scenic assessment of 96 coastal sites located along the Valparaíso Region coastline (continental and insular). • Scenic evaluation assesses values from a checklist of 18 physical and 8 human parameters. • Urbanization, port development, shoreline retreat, and litter pollution are of particular note in the Valparaíso Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An objective and comprehensive understanding of the development intensity of China's coastal area is of great significance to China's planning and marine management. On the basis of specifying the impact factors and characteristic indexes of the development intensity of China's coastal area, this paper constructs a model for ocean development intensity evaluation, comprehensively evaluates the development intensity of China's coastal area and summarizes the distribution features and patterns of ocean development intensities of different areas by fully using the relative data of sea area use and management, providing reference for future ocean development and protection policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 50 years, coastal erosion has become a serious problem, rising in magnitude and dominance along the Caribbean coastline of Colombia. Circa 50% of this important area for the country is undergoing serious erosion problems related to a multiplicity of factors contrasted by their degree of influence and magnitude, e.g. sedimentary imbalances, extreme waves, ecosystems destruction and sea level rise. Coastal protection related with hard structures has been the first, and in some cases, the only management strategy for these erosion problems. At the beginning of 2016, at least 1484 hard structures (both cross and longshore, such as, groins, seawalls, breakwaters, amongst others) have been built along the Colombian Caribbean coast, the highest concentrations being found in tourist cities. A significant percentage (close to 90%) of these hard structures have not been very successful or have failed in their purpose. These hard structures have altered the natural conditions of the study area, producing impacts such as i) coastal armoring, ii) reduced sediment supplies to downdrift areas, iii) intensification of erosion processes, iv) generation of nearby new erosion hot spots, v) deterioration of coastal scenery quality, among others. This paper describes and evaluates the functionality of coastal protection strategies used up to the present and delves into management aspects of coastal protection in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It also indicates the current and future coastal protection scene for the region and highlights major trends and challenges faced by users, land owners, and coastal managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of coastal sediment compartments was first used in the 1960s in the United States. It has since been recognised as appropriate for defining sections of the Australian coast, but had not been uniformly adopted around the nation in the way that has underpinned management, as in other countries. In 2012, the Australian Government supported a project to better understand coastal sediment dynamics using the sediment compartment approach as a framework within which to consider future shoreline behaviour and the impacts of climate change, including rising sea level, changing wave climates and sediment budgets. This paper outlines the sediment compartment project and uses case studies to demonstrate its application. The project consisted of three steps. The first step involved delineation of a hierarchy of coastal sediment compartments following a nationally agreed set of criteria, integrating the onshore/offshore geologic framework with known patterns of sediment movement and those inferred from surface landforms. This identified more than 100 primary compartments bounded by major structural features such as headlands or changes of shoreline orientation. At a finer scale, approximately 350 secondary compartments were identified, many of which encompass smaller scale structural features that define tertiary scale compartments or cells. For verification of this sediment compartments approach to coastal planning and management, the second step of the study comprised case studies of contrasting compartments with different patterns of sediment supply, transport and deposition. The third step, involved embedding all secondary compartments around the continental coast into the Shoreline Explorer, within the CoastAdapt toolbox (National Climate Change Adaption Research Facility). Information regarding the sensitivity of shorelines to change was compiled at the compartment scale, based upon evidence such as substrate, sediment transport attributes and oceanographic forcing, including waves, tides and storm processes. Presentation of information through CoastAdapt within the compartments framework provides a resource to facilitate improved coastal planning and management over different implementation levels, from national strategy scale down to local policy scale. Case studies from several contrasting settings around the Australian coast demonstrated the potential and feasible application of the sediment compartment approach at different spatial and temporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beachgoers are not aware of many hazards they may find in the seawater. In 2015 58% of drowning that occurred in Spain took place on the beach. The risk may be reduced by action on the vulnerability and the exposition. Swimming ability may help to decrease vulnerability but it seems not to be enough and, as for exposition, the knowledge of beach hazards is a good aid to reduce bathers' incidents. The aim of this paper is to know which is the knowledge acquired by students who have finished secondary education. Three hundred and sixty four first year students from the University of the Basque Country were surveyed by means of a questionnaire with the purpose of knowing their swimming level, their profile as beach users, their knowledge of rip currents and how to recognize them, and their interpretation of the beach safety information and signals. The research shows that, although more than 95% of respondents go to the beach, the swimming level is low given that 51% can swim between 25 and 100 m. On the other hand, their knowledge of rip currents is also very low. However it is surprising that there are more rescuers than people saved. These results lead us to think that an Aquatic Safety Educational Plan is necessary as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of adaptive policies for the management of dynamic and complex ecosystems, such as marine and coastal environments, asks for flexible and innovative tools which account for multifaceted issues, uncertainties and cope with a wide range of future conditions. To date, several tools and methods to support the design and implementation of adaptive policies have been developed by the research community (e.g. data processing and management, stakeholder analysis and participatory methods, numerical and simulation models, assessment approaches). The paper proposes a (four) step-wise methodology to review, analyze, classify and select existing tools dealing with social, economic and environmental issues. Firstly, existing toolboxes were retrieved. Secondly, an in-depth analysis was performed to classify their potential for the development and implementation of adaptive policies in marine areas. Thirdly, selected tools were included in the ‘ Database of tools and methods ’ of the wider Adaptive Marine Policy Tool Box, designed within the EU-FP7 PERSEUS project (Policy-oriented Environmental Research in Southern European Seas) to support policy makers with the application of an Adaptive Policy Framework. Finally, a review process was performed based on several qualitative criteria and expert judgment, which allowed to identify a set of valuable ‘ flag tools ’ useful to implement each step of the Adaptive Policy Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is the most threating environmental issue and the biggest challenge that humanity has ever faced. While acting as the key nodes of globalisation and international business, seaports are exposed to the vulnerability of climate impacts, mainly because of their locations, including low-lying areas, coastal zones, and deltas. The paper is to develop a Climate Change Risk Indicator (CCRI) framework for climate risk assessment of seaports, enabling research-informed policymaking on such a demanding topic. Due to the increasing number of extreme weather events (EWEs), climate change adaptation is becoming an essential and necessary issue to be addressed by seaport stakeholders. Climate risk analysis aids rational adaptation planning. Many climate assessments have been done for measuring climate vulnerabilities, and various climate adaptation measures have been proposed for reducing climate risks. However, few of them used quantitative approaches for climate risk evaluations in seaports and fewer on the provisions of CCRIs for comparing climate risks of different locations and timeframes to guide rational policy making. Furthermore , climate change is a dynamic issue, requiring big objective data to support the analysis (e.g. monthly climate data on CCRIs) of climate threats and vulnerabilities. In this paper, Evidence Reasoning (ER) is employed to evaluate the climate risks in seaports by tackling the incomplete data. The findings reveal the quantitative measures of climate change risks in different locations and in different months. Furthermore, the risk levels of seaports in the future are assessed for observing the changes and informing policy making. The main contributions of this study include the visualisation of the comprehensive climate risk levels and provision of a new climate risk analysis framework through the comparison of climate change risks with respect to different locations and timeframes. Suitable climate adaptation measures can be chosen to implement, and seaports can cooperate on climate resilience issues (e.g. seaport network service and pre-disaster relief logistics). • Propose an Evidential reasoning (ER) approach to integrate all Climate Change Risk Indicators (CCRI) and establish a CCRI framework for seaports. • Assess twelve seaports in the United Kingdom (UK) as a demonstration. • Observe the monthly and seasonal climate changes. • Forecast the future climate risks for the seaports in the UK. • Comparing the climate risks with respect to location and timeframe for informing policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norwegian salmon farming has grown tremendously over the last 50 years, and it now constitutes around 75% of the country's total seafood export value. The grow-out phase typically takes place in coastal waters. There are ambitions for continued strong growth. Five years ago, a survey revealed that the fish farmers saw the lack of available sea area as the industry's greatest challenge for continued growth. This paper examines the current and future situation for area use, needs and availability, for salmon farming in Norway. The paper considers several possible changes that can influence this, including the coastal zone planning system, new technologies for offshore, land-based and closed salmon farming, and new tax-schemes that affect the distribution of burdens and benefits from salmon farming. The main finding is that central government has several options available, if it would like to prioritise aquaculture in terms of access to coastal waters. However, this would imply a full-scale overhaul of the present allocation system, as well as a dramatic change of the current planning system, which in turn means challenging local democracy – not a very likely development under the current political circumstances. This leaves the industry with two options; to reduce salmon lice, emissions and escapes and to increase legitimacy on all levels, and by granting the local municipalities a larger share of the enormous value creation seen in the salmon sector. While the ambitious plans of doubling production by 2030 and increase it five times by 2050 certainly will require more and better coastal aquaculture localities, the actual extent of area shortage will to a large degree depend on the development of new production models; land-based, offshore, contained net pens and the production of large smolt. Success in these endeavours, could also have an impact on global production of salmon, by opening the market for new actors, thus reducing the Norwegian share and the profitability of the industry. Image 1 • Salmon farming has been an economic success but disputed in terms of sustainability. • Lack of sea areas has been considered a major obstacle for further expansion. • Further expansion blocked due to lack of environmental and social sustainability. • Area requirements in salmon farming depend on choice of technology. • Recent developments could change the present situation of perceived area shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaport is a critical coastal infrastructure serving important economic purposes but at the same time is exposed to a wide range of natural hazards including tropical cyclones. Mapping of cyclone risk for seaports is a primary step in risk planning and mitigation which remains a gap in the literature. Since East Asia is among the most affected areas of cyclone risk, and also the region where the world's top container ports are located, cyclone risk mapping for major seaports in East Asia is carried out. The objective of this paper is to develop a scientific methodology of cyclone risk mapping for critical coastal infrastructures, taken East Asian seaports as illustration. The risk maps are created by the integration of cyclone hazard maps showing historical cyclone tracks, wind intensity distributions and frequency distributions, with port container throughout data map. Results show that there were a considerable number of cyclone events, especially along the coastal seas extending from Vietnam to Japan. In South East Asia, cyclone risk is generally low in terms of both wind intensity and frequency but not completely zero. The ports of Shanghai, Kaohsiung, and Keelung are more exposed to cyclone risk in North East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capability approach has long been confined to a static, short-term framework, preventing it from truly providing normative guidance for enhancing multidimensional well-being and sustainable development. Human well-being cannot be seen as fixed, so there is an urgent need to assess the capability approach from a dynamic and long-term perspective. In this paper, the Beibu Gulf Mangrove National Natural Reserve of China was selected as a study area. A sustainable development perspective was integrated into a static capability approach theory framework, focusing on changes in capability approach with a dynamic, long-term gaze, and the impact of coastal zone ecological protection policies on farmers' multidimensional well-being was measured at spatial and temporal scales. The results indicate that ecological conservation policies reduce the level of capability approach of farm households in the short term. However, from a dynamic and long-term perspective, once the "pain period" is over, the capability approach can be continuously improved, achieving a win-win situation for both farmer well-being and ecological sustainability. This result also innovatively verified the core of the capability approach, which states that "freedom" under the capability approach framework is not unrestricted freedom, but restricted freedom. This will further expand and improve the relevant research of Sen's capability approach theory, and is also a beneficial exploration of combining Sen's capability approach theory with the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to solve the contradiction between peasant household welfare development and environmental protection, we need to explore a new scheme. The results of the study provide the government and policy makers with ideas for improving ecological protection policies, along with a more accurate and scientific basis for optimizing the multidimensional welfare compensation system to improve the feasibility and effectiveness of policy implementation. • The capability approach cannot be confined to a static framework. • It takes a long time for ecological protection policies to improve human well-being. • True "freedom" is restricted and constrained. • Appropriate policy interventions can promote sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making in a coastal socio-ecological system involves managing a site-specific complexity arising not only from the interaction between hydrodynamic and morphological conditions, but also from the interactions between human structures and ecological systems, as well as the conflicting needs and interests of local actors. In addition, the projections of climate change impacts on coastal systems have a degree of uncertainty, which increases the general unpredictability of coastal dynamic behaviour, and adds a layer of complexity to the decision-making process. Scientific knowledge can help reduce some of the inherent uncertainties, and is essential when it comes to making sound decisions on the choice of appropriate coastal defence measures (CDMs) that are adapted to specific coastal environments and improve the resilience of coastal communities. This paper is based on a meta-analysis of 355 CDMs case studies drawn from 301 publications. From these published case studies, the objectives were to analyze the geographical and physical contexts in which CDMs monitoring was carried out and, based on the findings, to recommend areas of improvement necessary to help make sound decisions in any type of coastal environment. The meta-analysis showed that study sites are not evenly distributed around the world. Most originate from Europe (n = 106), the USA (n = 151) and Australia (n = 30), while few studies have been carried out in Africa and Asia where dense population resides in high-risk zones. Also noticeable is the absence of sites in high latitude climates where ice plays a major role in the erosion process. Five basic variables (coastal type, sediment type, wave characteristics, tidal range, and currents or sediment transport characteristics) are used in publications to characterize study sites according to their physical components. However, only 13 of the 355 sites included a complete characterization using the 5 variables, of which coastal and sediment types are the most frequently identified (77.2% and 72.7% respectively). In general, CDMs are studied in the context of unconsolidated low shore (59.4%) and in sandy environments (74.6%). Information on tidal range, wave climate, and currents, or sediment transport characteristics, is much scarcer. Since 1990, 3 of the 10 CDMs identified in the studies have received more attention than the others; these are beach nourishments, seawalls and breakwaters, with respective cumulative study sites of 164, 67 and 50. The geomorphological effects of CDMs are the most studied (55.1%), followed by ecological (31.2%), hydrodynamic (9.1%), and social (4.6%). Overall, this meta-analysis helped identify knowledge gaps regarding geographical and physical contexts in which CDMs monitoring was held. It also gave an indication of the kind of improvement necessary for global-scale adaptation planning, and for a better decision-making process to reduce coastal risks in the most vulnerable coastal communities. Finally, the analysis shows that 4.4% of the studies on defence measures include monitoring of their effects on the coastal zone. A conceptual scheme is proposed for the evaluation of adaptation solutions based on the global monitoring of coastal zones to measure coastal change trajectories in the context of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Port based transportations are key elements governing the operation of global maritime logistics. In China, the southeast coastline suffers from typhoons frequently every year and causes many disruptions to port operations and thus economic losses. Quantitative evaluation of coastal ports' economic losses induced by typhoons is quite demanding and can serve as guidance for port operation planning and disaster prevention. In this paper, a framework based on a hybrid wind numerical model for assessing the direct and indirect economic losses of coastline caused by typhoon-induced extreme wind is proposed. The estimation of port disruptions and their durations is realized based on the typhoon hybrid wind numerical model. For the direct economic losses, this model considers losses to the port based on the loading/unloading operations of containers. The disruption days and economic losses of 31 ports along China's coastline are selected. These include ports from the Bohai Rim Port Cluster, Yangtze River Delta Port Cluster, Southeastern Coastal Port Cluster, Pearl River Delta Port Cluster, and Southwestern Coastal Port Cluster. The analysis takes the record of typhoons from 2006 to 2020 for this investigation. The influence of time-varying variables on economic losses, such as economic growth rate, has been considered. For the indirect economic losses, the input-output models of 11 different provinces (or municipalities) are employed to analyze each sector. Features of adopting a climate model in the economic evaluations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Black Sea basin is a unique and very complex environment in the World Ocean as a result of its evolution, location and history. This is the reason why in the last years there is an increasing scientific interest in deciphering the processes and mechanisms governing this area. Besides the well-known environmental problems of the basin related to pollution, eutrophication, overfishing and loss of biodiversity, erosion (as a result of storminess, sea level rise and human interventions) is affecting many coasts around the Black Sea. This paper deals with an evaluation of the erosion hazards along the Black Sea coasts, (through an in-depth and well-grounded scientific analysis of a comprehensive database of multiple sources), together with the discussion of erosion management issues at basin scale (through literature review and risk perceptions analysis related to planning strategies, protection measures, legislation and administrative implementation). For this endeavour, we have computed a Coastal Sensitivity Index (CSI) at 1-km spatial scale for more than 4000 sectors around the Black Sea, taking into consideration geological–geomorphological and physical characteristics of each sector through the following parameters: type of coast (coastal geomorphology and lithology), coastal slope (from shoreline to 20 m depth), shoreline changes in the last 33 years, wave incidence (the angle between the shoreline and the dominant storm waves), significant wave height during storm conditions and relative sea level rise. The results for each parameter are detailed and statistically presented and are finally aggregated into CSI. Results showed circa 19% (800 km) of the Black Sea coasts are undergoing serious erosion, affecting mostly the coastlines of Romania (37%), Ukraine (29%) and Georgia (26%). The most sensitive sectors to erosion are superposed on the areas with relatively high storm waves and incidence angles: the deltaic coastlines of the main deltas (Danube, Kizilirmak, Yesilirmak, Sakarya, Rioni, Enguri, Kodori, Chorokhi) of the Black Sea, the low-lying areas along the lagoons, limans, coastal barriers and spits from Kalamitsky, Odessa and Karkinitsky Bays (Dniester, Tendrovskaya and Dzharlygachskiy areas), Chornomorske – Yevpatoriya area (in Crimea), Taman – Anapa (in Russia) and Karasu – Karaburun (in Turkey) and the rocky areas Gelendzhik – Tuapse (in Russia), Sevastopol – Cape Meganom (in Crimea) and Inebolu – Eregli (in Turkey). These highly sensitive sectors cover extensive areas along the coastlines of Russia (57%), Georgia (46%), Turkey (44%), Romania (43%) and Ukraine (35%). Implications of coastal erosion management in the Black Sea riverine countries (with different coastal legislation, EU/non-EU regulations and directives etc.) are discussed, emphasizing the main problems and shortcomings. Some guidelines for coastal erosion management in the specific case of the Black Sea are listed at the end of the paper. Despite the complicated regional geo-political context, common framework of coastal erosion management for the entire Black Sea basin is needed at all levels (political, administrative, academics and research) through cross-border cooperation related to legislation, regulations (integrated approaches for Marine Spatial Planning and Coastal Zone Management), research and academic programs, coastal zone monitoring, management/planning (prioritization of protection works and promotion of soft engineering measures) and public participation. • Coastal erosion is a serious problem along the Black Sea coasts. • 19% (800 km) of the coast is experiencing erosion rates higher than 1 m/yr. • Overview, description and explanation of the different variables used for Coastal Sensitivity Index (CSI) computation. • Lack of proper coastal erosion management strategies, regulations and frameworks in the riverine countries. • Need for integrated basin scale MSP and ICZM approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florida is the fourth most vulnerable coastal state in the USA to sea level rise (SLR). Studies predict that a 1.20 m rise translates into the displacement of almost five million people and destroys about 2.6 million homes. The only solution to reducing the vulnerability of Florida's coastline is the creation and implementation of coastal policies, including a reduction in armoring and the adoption of policies such as rolling easements. This paper advances a SLR inundation computer model that estimates the costs of applying rolling easement policy through three outcomes: property value loss, property area loss and conservation easement payments to home owners. The GIS computer model is modular which allows new policy components, datasets, or ArcGIS tools to easily be added to the model. The results show that property land inundation and real property losses are primarily linear while rolling easement compensation payments are substantial during the first three scenarios then are largely stable for the remaining SLR steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal and marine space is “home” to a constantly growing number of human activities and facilities, the most important of which are those related to coastal and marine tourism. Being one of the largest segments of the maritime economic sectors, as well as the largest component of the tourism industry, coastal and marine tourism often raise controversy regarding the environmental impacts and the compatibilities with other human activities. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), is considered to be a promising procedure in tackling developmental and management issues related to the oceans and seas, and thus issues related to coastal and marine tourism. Indeed the present paper argues over the significant role of MSP in organizing and planning coastal and marine tourism activities and especially in ensuring: a) good environmental conditions for the tourism industry to prosper, b) quality of seascapes and coastal landscapes and other resources of importance to tourism, c) adaptation to climate change effects, d) spatial regulations so that coastal and marine space is not overwhelmed by tourism facilities and activities and e) wise allocation of human uses in the coastal zone so as to avoid conflicts and create synergies among sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase of tourism and urbanization in the coastline of Buenos Aires province resulted in the need of infrastructure and services development along the entire coast. However, the lack of environmental criteria of human activities altered the aero and hydrodynamic conditions and is causing important cliffs regression and beach erosion. In this scenario and to minimize such problems, since 1980's, installing coastal defense structures became a very used method. The main types used in the study area are mounds built with blocks of quartzite and set up as longitudinal defenses on the cliff base. It was seen that these structures reduced coastline retreat but caused several environmental alterations changing natural dynamic conditions. These alterations caused serious consequences in coastal configuration, local and regional hydrodynamic, morphometry of beaches, environment and ecology of the coast and obviously, in the human activities and recreation areas. This paper analyses the coastal system evolution after mounds settlement, their functions and consequences to nature (comparing altered environments with those which still preserves natural conditions) and discuses its advantages and disadvantages with the objective of establish precedent for future integrated and conscious coastal management projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively use limited funds and resources for conservation of biodiversity, the most valuable areas and contents have to be identified. Therefore, it is essential to identify the priority conservation areas (PCAs) and to explore the maximum conservation benefits for biodiversity conservation. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recommends that countries should conduct ‘Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) identification’, and adopt a scheme of using scientific criteria to identify the EBSAs, but in China Offshore Areas, this kind of work almost does not exist. This paper focuses on the method and application of PCAs identification in Offshore China. The first step is to carry out marine spatial classification according to biogeographical factors, and then to discuss the PCAs identification in regard to marine biodiversity in species, community and ecosystem levels, finally to take Offshore China as a case study. Through marine spatial classification, Offshore China is divided into 5 biological regions by climate and geography differences, and 12 ecological regions by typical, ecological and administrative factors, and 98 biogeographical units by biogeographical factors. As a result, among 98 geographical units, 43 units are identified as PCAs, 31 units are PCAs at focal level, 16 units are PCAs at community level, and 15 units are PCAs at ecosystem level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, as in many other tropical countries, coastal communities have been dealing with a complex dynamics of change, mostly related to the degradation of ecosystems, growing tourism and changing government policies, with consequences for natural resources conservation and management. Understanding how these communities are dealing with such change and the trade-offs provide insights for building resilience. In this paper, we investigate how a Caiçara community (traditional group of mixed heritage) has been dealing with social-ecological changes over the last 50 years, and how these changes have affected the livelihood resilience. Livelihood pathway analysis revealed how the system behaved historically and how the past dynamics influenced and may continue to influence resilience building. In face of challenges and disturbances, the coping and adaptive strategies used by this community have helped to maintain the diversity of livelihood options and ecosystem services, which contributed to resilience. Self-organization, collective action and political agency were important components to deal with crises mainly related to territorial disputes concerning overlap with protected areas. The trade-offs in social-ecological system dynamics were related to the geographical isolation of the community (located on an island), the creation of protected areas, and the use of tourism income as a livelihood strategy. Over the years, social cohesion has weakened due to increased economic rationality and conflicts – which may undermine social-ecological system resilience in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governance has long been identified as a crucial part of solving environmental problems. Effective governance supports and encourages adaptive capacity to maintain or improve the conditions of socio-ecological systems. As coastal zones are among the most vulnerable systems to climate change impacts (e.g. sea-level rise), the adaptive capacity of coastal communities to climate change threats will be critical. Human populations will respond both directly and indirectly to these threats and impacts; for instance by adapting resource use and practices (e.g. changing fish targets). In this paper, we apply definitions of resilience, adaptive capacity and vulnerability to the coastal zone socio-ecological system. We focus on organizations and management aspects of governance in coastal Australia. Our approach combines a literature review that highlights key organizational drivers that supports adaptive capacity with interview data from senior resource managers from organizations from across Australia to test the validity of such drivers. The key drivers related to organizational and management issues that are required to build and strengthen the adaptive capacity of Australian coastal communities are: (a) Leadership; (b) Clear responsibilities and flexible organizational framework; (c) Effective integration of knowledge and insights; (d) Learning approach to natural resource management; and (e) Human capacity and coordinated participation in decision-making. Our study showed that natural resource management organizations are clearly concerned about future changes and uncertainties and recognize the need for cooperation and good organizational drivers. However, integration of knowledge and long-term planning to deal with predicted changes in climate is largely lacking; and mismatches between management, organizational and ecosystem boundaries and processes also exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historically, typhoons have inflicted significant damage and loss of life to coastal communities in Asia. Regional governments, private enterprise (including the insurance and re-insurance industries), town planners and coastal developers are grappling to find sustainable solutions to coastal development while maintaining high rates of development and economic growth. Several nations and organisations have developed typhoon databases to collate the impacts of typhoons in various regions. However, these databases are not comparable or consistent in terms of the depth of information provided. This paper presents a new typhoon database for southern and eastern Chinese coastal regions (SECCR) spanning the period from 1951 to 2012. The database comprises comprehensive details of typhoons impacting Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the mainland Chinese provinces of Hainan, Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang. This new database provides an insight into the impacts of typhoons upon the economies and casualties suffered in each of the SECCR. There were 853 typhoons between 1951 and 2012, 286 typhoons caused human casualties, and 228 inflicted economic loss. The data shows an overall decrease of fatalities and economic loss. The database also shows a downward trend in the percentage of normalized economic loss in relation to the regional annual gross domestic product (GDP) for each province. The decline in both fatalities and relative economic losses in the SECCR may reflect improved adaptation and mitigation strategies to the impacts of typhoons in the Chinese coastal region. Further examination into the spatial and temporal features of typhoons that bring catastrophic damage to the SECCR can be managed with this newly developed database. This database can also act as a guide for future direction in improving mitigation strategies of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial modelling is a resourceful approach largely used in land use planning and occupation dynamics. The use of land change and urban growth simulations are indispensable for supporting the development and implementation of urban planning policies. This paper develops potential scenarios of land use change (status-quo and law enforcement) and urban occupation in the north coast of São Paulo using spatial dynamics modelling. Cellular automata-based modelling and EGO Dynamic simulations were used to produce past and future scenarios of land use occupation and growth expansion. These scenarios are compared between them and with vulnerability maps to identify areas at risk. The outcomes show that the north coast of São Paulo is highly vulnerable to expansion of irregular occupations when regulations are not enforced. Forest areas are the first areas to be suppressed by an unsystematic urban development. The extent to which people are exposed to environmental and climatic changes is influenced by urban infrastructure developments and decision making regulations. Findings of this work can guide future planning decisions on such as the revision of the ecological-economic zoning and local land use plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pearl River estuary is a microcosm of marine sand resource management issues, which are being experienced in many developing coastal regions in China. The increasing demand and inefficient management of marine sand have resulted in a series of environmental problems and raised great challenges for rational utilization of marine sand. In the long term, resolving management conflicts and improving the efficiency of resource utilization will require a shift in management approach from administrative examination and approval (AEA) of sector-based management to market-based approach of cooperation management. This paper concerns a pilot scheme for market-based resource allocation, and illustrates how the involved agencies could work together to push forward the scheme in a sectoral context. Both achievements and inadequacies of the scheme are presented, and enabling factors are identified, which include administrative authorization, institutional support and approach improvement, which facilitate the success of the scheme. We also describe key elements (a clearly defined exchange object, independent third-party trade platform and standardized market rules, rational goals, and cooperation mechanism), which are essential for a market-based approach to manage marine sand. We hope the experience acquired in the Pearl River estuary will be useful for other coastal regions in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, coastal erosion, extreme urbanization, woody debris, litter, sewage, noise, and beach driving are severely affecting the scenic value of the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. To determine the current state of this situation and give management inputs, this paper provides the scenic assessment of 300 coastal sites using the Coastal Scenery Evaluation System (CSES). The CSES assesses values from a checklist of 18 physical and 8 human parameters and allows calculation of a scenic evaluation index (D Value), which classifies coastal sites into five classes: Class I, usually natural areas of top scenic characteristics, to Class V, poor scenic natural areas with a higher impact of human interventions. Along the study area, 52 coastal sites (17.3%) appeared in Class I; 40 (13.3%) in Class II; 56 (18.7%) in Class III; 55 (18.3%) in Class IV, and 97 sites (32.3%) in Class V. This evaluation provides a complete assessment overview of the Caribbean Colombia coastal scenery and serves as baseline for implementation of management strategies. This management must be based on scientific knowledge and should address not only human use values, but also the maintenance and preservation of the environmental quality of the coast. • The Caribbean Coast of Colombia is being threatened by scenery degradation. • Scenic assessment of 300 coastal sites (continental and insular). • Scenic evaluation assesses values from a checklist of 18 physical and 8 human parameters. • 208 (69.3%) of surveyed coastal sites are not in optimal or acceptable scenery conditions. • Significant influence of human-induced processes/activities over the current coastal scenery degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around the world coastal communities face an unprecedented challenge in responding to sea level rise and associated changes. For many responding through incremental adaptation may be appropriate (although not without limits). This may include progressively raising defences, nourishing beaches, and other conventional management measures. Such actions are well supported by existing governance structures and investment vehicles. For others however, continuing to provide protection from flooding may not be technically feasible or financially viable. For these communities, transformational adaptation will be needed (including realignment or relocation). Implementing transformational change, however, is difficult and requires a clarity of long-term planning and a means of supporting communities to take early action in making this transition. This paper explores the scale of the transformational challenge in England through to 2100. The combined influences of relative Sea Level Rise and the local lowering of the foreshore platform due to increased wave-driven surface erosion are considered. The realism of published shoreline policies (set out within England's Shoreline Management Plans) are assessed based on projected changes in flood risk and benefit-cost considerations. The assessment suggests 1,600–1,900 km (∼30%) of England's shoreline currently designated as a 'Hold-the-Line' policy is likely to see increasing pressure to realign (assuming a rise in Global Mean Surface Temperature of between 2 and 4 °C by 2100) with implications for ∼120,000–160,000 residential and non-residential properties by the 2050s. It is likely that a proportion of these properties will require relocation. It is not possible to say how many this will be. This will be a matter for government and the associated policy and funding priorities that will influence local outcomes. • Progress has been to embed 'incremental' adaptation in coastal plans, but a significant gap remains delivering 'transformational' change. • By the 2050s, a Hold-the-Line policy is likely to become increasingly difficult along 1,600–1,900 km of England's shoreline. • Consequently, ∼120-160,000 properties are likely to experience increased uncertainty as to their continued protection from coastal floodiing. • For some communities, climate change will have a profound, not marginal, impact and they will need support to implement transformational change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal zone is subject to growing recreational human activity, which may compromise the suitability of coastal habitats for coastal wildlife. Waders rely extensively on the coastal zone, and they are easily disturbed by human activity when they congregate in large flocks at communal high tide roost sites. To ensure sustainable future development of outdoor recreational activities, emphasis has been given on differentiating between areas prioritized for nature conservation and areas open to human recreation, but only rarely have nature conservation interests been mapped explicitly on a fine spatial scale. The Danish Wadden Sea has recently been identified as a high-conflict area between outdoor activities and waterbirds, and in this paper, we apply 40 years of bird counts covering 12 wader species to build a priority map identifying the most important areas for the future conservation of waders in the region. We outline the most important areas for roosting waders across the Danish Wadden Sea, describe the preferred habitats used for roosting at high tide and assess the persistence of importance of individual areas across 4 decades. Our analysis indicates that importance changes only little even on long temporal scales, demonstrating that the presented priority map will be a useful tool for managers and policy makers when planning the sharing of the Wadden Sea between humans and waders. As such, spatially referenced long-term monitoring data may significantly improve the scientific basis underpinning decision- and policymaking, and ensure that nature conservation interests are explicitly accounted for. • Mapping important wader roosts ensures sustainable development of outdoor recreation. • Importance of roost areas changed only little across four decades. • Species diversity reflects habitat diversity at the regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones are recognized as priority areas for climate change adaptation. Without robust and effective adaptation, numerous coastal zones will be drastically affected. There is an ongoing need for coastal adaptation particularly, for the low-lying deltas, which are highly vulnerable to the coastal hazards-based Sea Level Rise (SLR). Worldwide, the national coastal strategies mainly focusing on the three coastal adaptation approaches issued by the International Panel of Climate Change (retreat, accommodation, and protection). The developed and developing countries are being made serious efforts to adapt to the SLR. This paper investigates the Egyptian efforts, best practices, and experiences in dealing with coastal erosion, flooding, and inundation-based SLR. The Egyptian national strategy for coastal adaptation mainly adopted the protection approach. Along the Nile Delta coast of Egypt, various national projects contain coastal adaptation measures were detected, such as seawalls, revetments, sand dunes, nourishment, and artificial sand dunes based on a geotextile sand-tube core using natural reed mats for sand trapping. In addition, different actions such as constructing modern fish farming, regular dredging for coastal lakes and lagoons, and enforcing the coastal road were observed. All provide defense systems. Most of these promising adaptation technologies, efforts, and actions show favorable responses to guarantee adequate protection against SLR hazards. [Display omitted] • Nile Delta coastal zones are recognized as priority areas for climate change adaptation. • The Egyptian experiences and practices in dealing with SLR hazards were presented. • The protection approach is the primary strategy in Egypt for coastal adaptation. • Two experimental projects (artificial dunes) were presented as new protection technologies. • The implemented adaptation measures show positive responses and protection against SLR hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dutch coastal policy aims for a safe, economically strong and attractive coast. This is achieved by maintaining the part of the coast that support these functions; the coastal foundation. The coastal foundation is maintained by means of sand nourishments. Up to now, it has been assumed that net transports across the coastal foundation's offshore boundary at the 20 m depth contour are negligibly small. In the framework of the Coastal Genesis 2.0 program we investigated sand transports across this boundary and across other depth contours at the lower shoreface. This paper presents a computationally efficient approach to compute the annual sand transport rates at the Dutch lower shoreface. It is based on the 3D Dutch Continental Shelf Model with Flexible Mesh (3D DCSM-FM), a wave transformation tool and a 1DV sand transport module. We validate the hydrodynamic input against field measurements and present flow, wave and sand transport computations for the years 2013–2017. Our computations show that the net annual sand transport rates along the Dutch coast are determined by peak tidal velocities (and asymmetry thereof), density driven residual flows, wind driven residual flows and waves. The annual mean alongshore transports vary along the continuous 20 m depth contour. The computed total cross-shore transports are onshore directed over the continuous 20 m, 18 m and 16 m depth contours and increase with decreasing water depth. The effect of density difference and wind on the 3D structure of the flow and on the sand transports cannot be neglected along the Dutch lower shoreface. Our computations show that excluding the effect of density results in a significant decrease of the onshore directed transports. Also switching off wind largely counteracts this effect. The net cross-shore transport is determined by a delicate balance between gross onshore and offshore transports, where wave conditions are important. We show an example for Scheveningen where the net cross-shore transport is onshore directed when including all wave conditions but would be offshore directed when excluding waves higher than 3.5 m. In contrast, at Callantsoog the highest waves contribute more to the offshore directed transports. These results suggest that storm conditions play an important role in the magnitude and direction of the net annual transport rates at the lower shoreface. • Efficient Process-based 3D modelling approach. • Annual sand transports entire Dutch coast. • Cross-shore transports 20 m, 18 m and 16 m depth contours onshore directed. • Onshore transport increases with decreasing water depth. • Storm conditions play important role for net transport rates at lower shoreface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean Region is nowadays deemed to be a 'hot spot' in various respects, including climate change, environment and biodiversity, urbanization and mass tourism, to name a few. This holds true in the case of Mediterranean islands in particular, i.e. places that are globally acknowledged as appealing mass tourism destinations; while at the same time are confronted with severe threats, more intensely presented in islands' overcrowded coastal zones. In fact, intensified Climate Change incidents and related threats, coupled with the escalating – beyond carrying capacity limits – coastal urbanization and mass tourism development, represent currently key policy concerns in Mediterranean islands. These also raise, in a strict and urgent way, the necessity to sketch more sustainable and resilient future pathways, especially in their coastal counterparts. Towards this end, this paper attempts to outline the Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) approach as a means for assessing and steadily monitoring tourism development trajectory in coastal areas of the Mediterranean islands. More particularly, by using the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework as a foundation, it develops and implements a Tourism Carrying Capacity Index (TCCI) that focuses primarily on environmental and manmade dimensions; incorporates mostly tourism-specific variables; and is capable of providing guidance towards planning more sustainable tourism future pathways in coastal areas. TCCI application, demonstrated for the Island of Naxos, Greece, unveils its power as an easy to handle decision-making tool for serving coastal tourism sustainability assessment and monitoring; but also its replicability potential and barriers to implementation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sea-level rise has intensified the erosion of coastal zones, whereby the coastal management requires tools to evaluate and predict the dynamics of shoreline. In this paper we evaluate the impact of erosion in a coastal zone of the active margin of Ecuador, where the subduction causes vertical movements of coast. The area chosen to develop this study Playa Bruja and Libertador Bolivar beaches in which activities such as tourism, fisheries, agriculture and gastronomy are the main sources of income. This study analyzes the shoreline retreatment from 1986 to 2019, by using aerial images (remote sensing), along to selected beaches to validate a computational numerical model as MIKE Zero. This calibrated model permitted us to evaluate possible scenarios and hazards until 2025 (with or without coastal protection such as offshore breakwaters), to promote integrated coastal management for decision-makers, especially considering the possible collapse of one of the main coastal highways (E15) of Ecuador country. The result from remote sensing suggests a mean rate of erosion of 0.64 m/yr, which well-correlate with the outputs from the numerical model (between 0.4 and 0.7 m/yr). The net transport, influenced by waves, was calculated in 470m3/day (1.71 E+5 m3/yr), predominant to the north. These results allowed us to categorize three levels of erosion threat such as high (45%), medium (46%), and low (9%) and this classification allows to observe which areas are more exposed or have a higher threat and then propose alternatives to protect. Future scenarios under natural conditions show a continuous retreat of the coast that put in risk the community and hypothetic scenario under an arrangement of 5 breakwaters generates accretion next to Playa Bruja Beach but a deficient supply at the north side at Libertador Bolivar. • Aerial photographs and numerical models allows to assessment shoreline change. • Multi-temporal analysis of aerial photographs allows to estimate coastal erosion rate. • Limited data over the area require to apply different tools to sediment dynamics study. • Coast model results can be calibrated with field data measured and aerial photographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustaining coastal ecosystems from the impact of rising sea levels is vital since they offer environmental services that are considered critical for humans' well-being. The Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) is favoured in coastal hazard studies, as it provides a predictive approach to coastal changes through its simple numerical basis in classifying coastlines based on their potential to change. The recent widespread use of innovative technologies has contributed to accessible coastal components to investigate coastal hazards and analyse risk assessment. However, most of the studies related to CVI have rarely exploited these forms of technology despite being utilised in various geodetic applications. Hence, a comprehensive review is performed to evaluate the application of these technological advances, particularly on exploiting space geodetic technology to determine and classify coastal information from various analytical approaches. This paper systematised modern approaches utilizing space technology to form CVI to assess the significant processes affecting the vulnerability and evolution of coastal areas. It is envisaged that the exploitation of space technology will facilitate CVI development and promote effective coastal management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially large and multiple use coastal regions face unprecedented pressures. Decision makers need to build policy that links social, economic and ecological dimensions in ways that build the adaptive capacity of these systems while not compromising individual values. This paper reports on an inter-disciplinary project that used a Capitals approach to build socio-economic indicators robust enough to use in integrated community assessments of adaptive capacity. Using the Spencer Gulf, South Australia as a case study, we demonstrate the utility of these indicators to derive quantitative assessments of socio-economic adaptive capacity. We argue that such assessments used at regular periods, in conjunction with scientific indicators, have the potential to be powerful management tools and provide ongoing ability to measure community adaptive capacity over time. [Display omitted] • Management of spatially large multiple use coasts is complex. • Integrated management can build adaptive capacity. • Socio-economic indicators can determine adaptive capacity. • This approach facilitates inter connection of of socio-economic with ecological indicators. • This framework provides pragmatic direction to future management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]