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Field observations on storm induced beach changes are important to improve our effort on beach management. This study compared storm induced beach changes caused by hurricane Hermine in 2016 (4 years after a beach nourishment) and Tropical Storm Eta in 2020 (2 years after a beach renourishment) along the barrier-island coast of west-central Florida. Pre-Eta beach were 1 to 2 times wider than that of pre-Hermine. Since Hurricane Hermine and TS Eta generated a similar hydrodynamic condition for the study site, comparing beach changes induced by these two storms provides a unique opportunity to investigate the response of different antecedent beach conditions to energetic events. The shore protection effect of beach nourishment is apparently evidenced by the fact that post-Eta shoreline was located seaward of those post-Hermine at half of the beach-profile locations in the study area. The shore protection effect in the subaerial portion of the beach, however, is not obvious for the other half of beach profiles where shoreline positions were retreated to similar locations after these two storms. Instead, their shore protection effect occurred in the sub-aqueous portion of the beach and was indicated by higher sandbar crests located closer to the shoreline, which can dissipate and reduce incoming wave energy. The shoreline elevation needs to be properly defined (Mean High Water vs Mean Low Water line) as it is used as a proxy to represent beach volume loss. For Hermine induced beach change, no significant correlation exists between MHW line change and beach volume loss. While a significant correlation exists between MHW line change and beach volume loss induced by TS Eta. This correlation pattern switched if the shoreline here is defined as mean low water line. For efficient beach/shoreline management, multiple proxies (e.g., sandbar height and location of its crest and trough) in addition to shoreline change should be used to assess the performance of beach nourishment project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection against a storm event provided by nourishment to Costa da Caparica beaches near Lisbon, Portugal, is investigated numerically with a two-dimensional-horizontal morphodynamic model able to generate and propagate the longer infragravity waves. The beach has a groyne field and a multi-typology backshore. The nourishment of 106 m3 of sand was placed at the beach face and backshore. Pre- and post-nourishment topo-bathymetric surveys of the beach, which suffers from chronic erosion, were performed under a monitoring program. The morphodynamics of the pre- and post-nourished beach when exposed to a simulated historically damaging storm event and the post-storm morphologies were compared to evaluate the efficacy of the nourishment. Results indicate that the lower surface level of the beach face and backshore of the pre-nourished beach induces a larger erosion volume. The nourishment prevented the extreme retreat of the shoreline that occurred during the storm in the pre-nourished beach and reduced the storm-induced erosion volume by 20%, thus protecting the beach effectively against the storm. The beach backshore typology (seawall vs. dune) exerts differential influences on the sandy bottom. As a result, multi-typology backshores induce alongshore variability in cross-shore dynamics. The backshore seawalls exposed to direct wave action cause higher erosion volumes and a larger cross-shore extension of the active zone. The most vulnerable alongshore sectors of the beach were identified and related to the mechanisms responsible for the erosion phenomenon. These findings strengthen the importance of sand nourishment for the protection and sustainability of beaches, particularly those with a seawall at the backshore, where storm events cause higher erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches are distinctive destinations, and their attractiveness is decisive for attracting tourists, enriching their experiences, and sustaining coastal tourism. This study investigates how different dimensions of beach attractiveness—scenery and cleanliness, facilities and services, geophysical aspects, and access and comfort—affect visitors‘ overall beach experience and revisit intention. By utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) in AMOS, with data from 311 respondents, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these factors contribute to beach tourism sustainability. The mediating role of overall beach experience between beach attractiveness and revisit intention was also examined. The findings indicate that beach scenery and cleanliness, geophysical aspects, and facilities and services have direct positive effects on the overall experience of beach users. The results also revealed the positive direct effects of beach scenery and cleanliness, and geophysical aspects on revisit intention. Finally, overall experience mediated the positive indirect effects of facilities and services and access and comfort dimensions on revisit intention. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing beach attractiveness and improving user experience to encourage revisitation and promote sustainable beach tourism. The results are further discussed from a demand perspective and implications are provided for beach management, policymakers, regulators, and local governments on the supply side to support the development of sustainable beach tourism in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach rankings are very frequent on the internet; however, the information provided on how these rankings are made is often unclear and their content is mostly subjective. In addition, the vast majority of these rankings do not take into account the fact that beaches are coastal eco-systems. The aim of the research was to develop an objective framework to rank the quality of beaches worldwide. The framework integrates indicators to assess the socio-ecological system quality and can be used as a basis for effective beach management. The methodology involved the collection, evaluation and grouping of indicators into domains and categories. Moreover, a measurement technique and a 5-point rating score for each indicator was used. Weights were calculated for different beach types using an analytical hierarchical process and the methodology was validated by a focus group of beach management experts. The quality value of each beach was calculated through equations and the results were presented in graphs inspired by the Circles of Sustainability and the Ocean Health Index. The theoretical application was tested on Portuguese beaches. The framework presents a holistic assessment of four domains: Recreation, Protection, Conservation and Sanitary. The resulting Beach Ranking Framework (BRF) is an objective, holistic framework designed to communicate with society, unlike the existing beach quality assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach wrack is a specific challenge for coastal communities around the Baltic Sea region. It is often removed from sandy tourist beaches as part of municipal beach cleaning operations. Some local authorities remove even the smallest amounts of beach wrack to meet perceived public demand for ‘cleaned’ beaches with little regard for any environmental consequences. This research explores the public opinion of beach wrack to determine whether there is, in fact, a demand for its ‘total’ removal from sandy tourist beaches. It explores how the acceptance levels of tourists and residents change depending on the amount of beach wrack present and looks at how people’s knowledge of beach wrack and their experience influences behaviour. For this study, over 700 members of the public were interviewed at sites in 5 different countries across the region. The interviews took place on or near regularly ‘cleaned’ tourist beaches where beach wrack is commonplace. The questions focused on the public’s attitudes towards the aesthetics of different beach wrack amounts. The study shows that while beach wrack does not positively affect most people’s beach experience, small quantities of beach wrack are tolerated. Public perception of beach wrack differs per country, and acceptance of certain amounts is linked to direct, visual, and practical experience. Beach managers can move towards a more sustainable beach wrack policy by desensitising beachgoers to small, unproblematic amounts of beach wrack and by helping to build public knowledge about the important ecosystem services that beach wrack provides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection against a storm event provided by nourishment to Costa da Caparica beaches near Lisbon, Portugal, is investigated numerically with a two-dimensional-horizontal morphodynamic model able to generate and propagate the longer infragravity waves. The beach has a groyne field and a multi-typology backshore. The nourishment of 106 m3 of sand was placed at the beach face and backshore. Pre- and post-nourishment topo-bathymetric surveys of the beach, which suffers from chronic erosion, were performed under a monitoring program. The morphodynamics of the pre- and post-nourished beach when exposed to a simulated historically damaging storm event and the post-storm morphologies were compared to evaluate the efficacy of the nourishment. Results indicate that the lower surface level of the beach face and backshore of the pre-nourished beach induces a larger erosion volume. The nourishment prevented the extreme retreat of the shoreline that occurred during the storm in the pre-nourished beach and reduced the storm-induced erosion volume by 20%, thus protecting the beach effectively against the storm. The beach backshore typology (seawall vs. dune) exerts differential influences on the sandy bottom. As a result, multi-typology backshores induce alongshore variability in cross-shore dynamics. The backshore seawalls exposed to direct wave action cause higher erosion volumes and a larger cross-shore extension of the active zone. The most vulnerable alongshore sectors of the beach were identified and related to the mechanisms responsible for the erosion phenomenon. These findings strengthen the importance of sand nourishment for the protection and sustainability of beaches, particularly those with a seawall at the backshore, where storm events cause higher erosion.

This study represents the first assessment of plastic waste within Posidonia spheroids on four sandy, Mediterranean beaches, each characterized by varying levels of anthropogenic influence. Fifty-five (68.7%) spheroids, out of eighty examined, included plastic litter. A total of 202 plastic items were isolated. Plastic abundance was 2.5 items/spheroid corresponding to 132 items per kilogram. The length of plastic items ranged from 0.1 to 50 mm. Fibers, tangled fibers and fragments were the most common shapes. The spheroids exhibited a substantial capacity for trapping plastic waste, with notable differences among the beaches. Our results underscore the significance of implementing a beach clean-up plan aimed at removing all spheroids to prevent them from disintegrating and releasing trapped plastic waste into the environment. Manual removal is recommended to safeguard the beaches, and this process should target all spheroids, regardless of their size. This study provides valuable insights that can inform marine litter monitoring programs, contribute to the development of tailored management measures, and support the implementation of specific action plans to mitigate Mediterranean microplastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine litter in coastal areas can bring economic, social, and environmental damage, especially the loss of aesthetic value of a tourist site. Therefore, research on the composition of marine litter to identify its sources is important for planning strategic action to minimize the problem. This study analyzed beach litter composition on five beaches (Kondangmerak, Balekambang, Ungapan, Ngudel, and Goa Cina) along the Indian Ocean coastline in the eastern part of the south Java region, Indonesia. All the beaches are known as the famous touristic beaches of Malang City, and receive many visitors, especially during the holiday season. Beach litter composition was obtained by collecting different types of litter in a 5 x 5 m square transect. Five square transects were placed along the beach strandline at each beach, and intervals of 20 m separated each transect. In each transect, the litter was collected and counted based on its category (plastic, paper, rubber, fabric, processed wood, metal, glass, ceramic, and hazardous items) and size (0.5–2.5cm, 2.5–5cm, 5–10 cm, and > 10 cm). There was a statistically significant variation in the number of litters among the sizes (p 10 cm was found least on all beaches (< 15%), while the other three size categories were found in similar numbers (in the range of 20% to 50%). Plastic was the dominating type of litter on all beaches. Based on the Clean Coastal Index, all beaches were considered dirty to extremely dirty. All litter on the beaches was the product of tourism activities, and littering habits play a significant role as the source of marine litter in the study areas. Since this is the first study on the marine litter composition in the eastern part of south Java, the results of this study can be used as a baseline for future studies to prevent marine debris pollution and to develop management strategies for reducing the impact of marine debris on the environment.

Thailand's current beach management strategies lack integration across sectors, resulting in conflicts of interest and insufficient consideration of diverse beach uses. The complexity of environmental, socio-economic, and coastal disasters challenge policymakers to describe the conditions of sandy beaches, and the most effective coastal management adaptation measures. This study suggests an integrated approach to evaluate beach conditions by incorporating the Urbanization Index, Conservation Index, and Recreation Index. Furthermore, the assessment of beach conditions will include the Threat Index, which consists of erosion rates and shoreline recession caused by sea level rise. The trends index will prioritize beach conditions for appropriate management actions. The study suggests management strategies that aim to preserve the physical and environmental aspects of the beach, while restoring its functionality for ecosystem services by applying engineering structures with beach nourishment. The main purpose of this study is to develop a beach condition that can be used as a guideline for sandy beach management in Thailand. It provides insights and recommendations to policymakers for enhancing the sustainability and resilience of Thailand's coastal areas in the face of urbanization and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering climate is a key resource for tourism, we investigated beach users' profiles and their perceptions regarding three acknowledged effects of climate change (CC): temperature changes, reduction in beach area and water restrictions. Chosen as our case study, Catalan beaches are recognized globally as a coastal destination visited by national and international tourists as well as local residents and could, thus, shed light on potential trends. We conducted 867 surveys with users from 18 beaches classified as urban, semi-urban and natural beaches during the summer season. Questions approached three main blocks of information: sociodemographic profiles, characteristics of the stay and mobility, and perceptions regarding potential CC impacts. The results identified differences in profiles and perceptions among users of different types of beaches. Regarding CC effects, temperature changes and beach area reduction appeared to be more limiting and decisive factors than water restrictions in future scenarios, although reductions in drinking water are also less accepted. Foreigners were generally more sensitive to the effects considered, possibly due to their greater flexibility in choosing tourist destinations. Finally, the capacity of this type of approach to highlight key issues and related human behavior in future scenarios is useful for tourism management, especially subsequent adaptation options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution on bathing beaches threatens the health of human beings and coastal organisms. There is a lack of assessment on the level of microplastic pollution and the health risk associated with plastics. As one of the earliest open bathing beaches in China, Liandao is well known as the two high-quality beaches. However, little is known about the extent of microplastic pollution on these bathing beaches. Based on the analysis of microplastic pollution abundance, distribution, shape, size, color, and composition at the Liandao bathing beaches, this study puts forward a novel approach to comprehensively evaluate the microplastic pollution level and risk level by using the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) and polymer hazard index (PHI). The results show that the average abundance of microplastics on the Liandao bathing beaches is 135.42 ± 49.58 items/kg; the main shapes are fibers, fragments, and granules. Most of the microplastics are transparent, brown, and black, accounting for 71.54%, and they have an average particle size of 0.63 ± 0.43 mm. The main components are PE, PP, PS, PET, and nylon, of which nylon appears in the highest proportion (54.77%). The microplastic NPI and PHI values are 0.38 and 74.81, respectively, indicating that the pollution level and health risk index of microplastics on the Liandao bathing beaches are both low. With the increase in population and per capita consumption, plastic waste generated on land will continue to increase. Finally, this study puts forward some suggestions regarding microplastic monitoring, plastic waste management, and environmental attitudes and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper essentially aims to identify coastal sites of great scenic value not (or barely) affected by human intrusions and propose sound management interventions to improve their landscape quality. Today, management of coastal areas in Italy is a very complex task essentially because of institutional fragmentation and overlapping of laws/regulations at the national, regional and municipal levels. It is estimated that only half of the country's beaches are freely accessible and usable for bathing, i.e., 43% are occupied by private concessions and in 7.2% bathing is not allowed because of water pollution. Sites' scenic quality was assessed using the Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES), a robust semi-quantitative methodology based on a set of 26 physical/human parameters, weighting matrices parameters and fuzzy logic mathematics. An evaluation index (D) was afterward obtained for each site and used to classify them into five scenic classes. After a long process of field testing along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian, Ionic and Adriatic seas (25 municipalities, 7 provinces and 4 regions: Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Apulia), a total of 36 sites were selected for this paper. Twenty-four sites fall within Class I, i.e., were extremely attractive (D ≥ 0.85; CSES) because of their exceptional geomorphological settings that favour a wide variety of coastal sceneries. Most of Class II (8) and Class III (4) sites could be upgraded by implementing clean-up operations or by reducing intrusive beach facilities. Meanwhile "private" beaches are usually cleaned; beach litter at remote/public sites represents a big concern to be challenged. Today, finding a free/aesthetic/clean beach without human intrusions in a fully natural environment is far more complex than it seems. Given this context, emphasis was particularly placed on beach litter and concessions aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial beaches have made a significant contribution to the expansion of coastal tourism. Obtaining information on tourists' preferences for artificial beach tourism can help managers to better balance the relationship between the satisfaction of recreational needs and environmental protection. The Meishan Bay Beach Park in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China was used as the study site, and the tourists' preferences for the artificial beach park development and management were evaluated using the choice experiment method. The results revealed that tourists were generally more interested in improving the governance level of the existing landscape than in further expanding the scale of artificial beach development. Among all attributes, significantly reducing the amount of garbage was the most preferred attribute, with a willingness to pay of 39.75 CNY, while willingness to increase beach area was the lowest attribute. The result of the preference heterogeneity analysis showed that tourists with higher education levels were more willing to pay to obtain a better recreational experience, while local tourists were more concerned about reducing congestion. Moreover, we found a clear and relevant segmentation of tourists' choice behavior, with the strong sensitivity for raising the ticket price being driven by the smallest group of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to quantify marine litter before and during the COVID pandemic found on urban touristic beaches closed to beachgoer access in northeastern Brazil. Litter identification and quantification was conducted during April, June, and August 2019, when 3583 items were sampled, and replicated during the same months in 2020, when access to the beaches studied was prohibited and a significant reduction in the amount of litter was found, 1812 items (49% decrease). Transects were used to monitor and classify litter according to its source, namely: autochthonous (litter that was locally discarded) and allochthonous (litter from other sites and sources). All beaches were classified as "very clean" and presented a smaller amount of litter during the beach closure period. The highest total marine litter reduction between the periods studied was 83%, while autochthonous litter in particular showed the most significant reduction, 88%. The comparison between the quantity and type of litter found in both periods showed greater specific anthropic pressure from beach users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has identified E. coli populations that persist in freshwater beach sand distinct from fecal pollution events. This work identifies factors that influence the survival of E. coli in sand using laboratory microcosms to replicate beach conditions. Microcosms were deployed to examine the effect of genetic background, competition with native microbial community, and increased nutrient concentrations on E. coli survival. Survival was comparable between the phylotypes B1 and B2, however, deficiency of stress response greatly reduced survival. In the absence of the native community under nutrient conditions comparable to those observed in sand, E. coli cell densities remained within an order of magnitude of initial concentrations after 5 weeks of incubation. Increased nitrogen was associated with decreased decay rates in the first 2 weeks, and increased carbon appeared to provide an advantage at later time points. However, the highest survival was found with the addition of both carbon and nitrogen. Native sand seeded with fresh Cladophora maintained higher concentrations of E. coli, compared to sand containing decayed Cladophora or no Cladophora. Our findings demonstrate persistent E. coli populations in sand can be affected by the availability of carbon and nitrogen, the ability to regulate stress, and the presence of algal mats (i.e., Cladophora). Further, this work suggests that the native microbial communities may modulate survival by outcompeting E. coli for nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulations of macroalgal wrack are important for adequate functioning of the beach ecosystem. However, the sudden beaching of seaweed masses smothers the coastline and forms decomposing piles on the shore, harming tourism-based economies, but also affecting the beach ecosystem metabolism. The decomposition of sudden pulses of wrack can modify the biogeochemistry of beach sands and increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The presence of invasive species in the wrack deposits can superimpose harmful effects on the beach functioning. We quantified the wrack biomass of Rugulopteryx okamurae , an invasive species of extreme impact, on five sandy beaches from the Atlantic coast of the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain), and we tested the effects on in situ respiratory CO 2 fluxes using an infrared gas analyser. All the beaches showed massive accumulations of Rugulopteryx wrack deposits. However, the biomass changed significantly between beaches, ranging (mean ± SE) from 968.3 ± 287.7 kg m−1 to 9210 ± 1279.4 kg m−1 of wet weight. Wrack supported high respiration rates, with CO 2 fluxes averaging (±SE) 19.15 ± 5.5 μmol CO 2 m−2 s−1 across beaches, reaching astounding maximum peaks of 291 μmol CO 2 m−2 s−1. The within-beach variability was related to the distance of the wrack deposits from the shoreline, as the average metabolic rates tended to increase significantly from the swash to the drift line. Thicker wrack and a more degraded algae stage showed significantly higher CO 2 fluxes. We estimated that the annual CO 2 flux of R. okamurae in our study area ranged between 0.39 (±0.01) and 23.30 (±11.33) kg C m−2 y−1. We suggest that massive amounts of beach wrack can become a globally significant contributor to GHG emissions that can offset any potential carbon-sink capacity of macroalgal forests. However, the piles of wrack located several meters above the drift line showed non-measurable CO 2 efflux. Transferring beach wrack from swash to drier upper-beach areas, a common practice in many coastal regions suffering from massive wrack accumulations, might help reduce GHG emissions while removing the wrack stockpiles from the intertidal. However, this practice is not necessarily suitable for all beaches and can create ecological and conservation problems in the dune system. There is an urgent need to implement practical and sustainable management practices for massive wrack deposits capable of presenting various solutions to achieve a balance between conservation and recreation actions, answering the consequences of a problem that links both, environmental and economic issues. • The invasive macroalgae R. okamurae dominates the beach wrack biomass in the Strait of Gibraltar. • Wrack fluxes across beaches averaged 19.15 ± 5.5 μmol CO 2 m−2 s−1, potentially affecting nearshore C-budget. • Massive wrack accumulations release huge amounts of CO 2 contributing to GHG emissions. • Buried wrack showed high CO 2 flux rates, but dry wrack showed non-measurable fluxes. • Increasing wrack accumulations worldwide are worrying in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformations that occur in the coastal territory often have an important link with the construction of port infrastructures, although establishing a direct correlation between causes and effects is rarely straightforward as they are phenomena that emerge over decades. Moreover, this phenomenon is fundamentally observed in developed countries, where we also find the added difficulty that a high number of variables intervene since the coast is usually an environment that is strongly anthropized by human action whilst being an important tourist asset. This study analyzes, from a different perspective than traditional coastal engineering approaches, the existing correlation between the construction of various marinas and coastal infrastructures along the southeast of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The existing geostatistical correlation between the configuration of port areas and the coastal and socioeconomic impacts that occurred during the decades following the construction of these infrastructures was evaluated using spatiotemporal GIS indicators. The results obtained show that there are different patterns of behavior in the impact generated by port infrastructures depending on the spatial configuration of their boundary conditions, beyond the behavior of sedimentary dynamics usually studied in civil engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach rotation is a widely described process characterized by periodic alternations in sediment transport involving erosion at one end of the beach and accretion at the other. The 1500-km-long coast of the Guianas, South America, is a unique system dominated by large migrating mud banks, muddy, mangrove-rich shorelines, and rare sandy beaches. Interactions between waves and the rare beaches on this coast are affected by the mud banks which are separated by ‘inter-bank’ areas. Kourou beach is situated near the site of the European Space Agency’s satellite-launching pad in French Guiana. The beach has maintained multi-decadal stability, but its interaction with mud banks has led to phases of severe erosion. To understand these changes, which constitute a risk for the urban front of Kourou, we combined a mesoscale temporal (1950–2017) analysis of shoreline fluctuations with a short-term approach based on photogrammetric monitoring of beach change conducted in 2017–2018 and on bathymetric surveys of the nearshore zone. The results show that Kourou beach evolves in a context of ‘rotation’, a process involving periodic alternations in beach erosion and recovery. Rotation is characterized during inter-bank phases by ‘normal’ sand transport to the northwest generated by the prevailing NE waves, and during mud-bank phases by drift reversal to the southeast generated by refraction of these waves at the leading front of a bank. Due to the aperiodic nature of these bank and inter-bank phases, erosion and accretion involved in beach rotation may prevail over variable periods of time (several years to decades). The large mud banks migrating from east to west first protect the southeastern sector of the beach, blocking the ‘normal’ northwestward longshore sand transport, but generating, through differential refraction, southeastward counter-drift. These processes and the irregular timescale of beach rotation they entail have not been compatible with the recent urbanization of the beach front in the southeastern sector, resulting in erosion and a sense of threat to beachfront property. Insight gained from an understanding of the rotation process and its irregular timescales should contribute to better beach-front management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the coast of Peru, intensive urbanization and tourism development were related to coastal scenery deterioration. This investigation carried out a scenery evaluation of 20 urban beaches from the "Circuito de Playas de la Costa Verde" (CPCV), a key beach corridor in Lima (Peru). For this purpose, the Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES) was applied in three different seasons, using fuzzy logic to reduce observer subjectivity and estimate the Evaluation index (D). A total of 26 parameters were evaluated to estimate the D value during summer 2020, winter 2020, and summer 2021, to determine the temporal variability of the landscape of an urban coastal sector, such as the CPCV. The results show that all evaluated beaches are classified as very unattractive sites (Class V). Additionally, no significant differences were found between seasons but between beaches. Litter and disturbance factors (noise) were the main human parameters that had low and variable scores during assessments and influenced the D index value estimate. This scenery assessment proposes further implementations of new beach management strategies and actions focusing on landscaping and conserving coastal ecosystems. Strengthening monitoring to reduce noise and litter disturbance and promoting environmentally friendly coastal usage are vital aspects that must be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a new method to more effectively plan the use of beaches by combining indices and artificial vision systems. The Overcrowding Index (I ocr ) measures the number of people on the beach in relation to its surface area, while the Distancing Index (I dis ) evaluates the spatial distribution and distance between beachgoers. Both indices are combined to generate an overall index called the Occupancy Index (I ocu ). The proposed methodology uses cameras and computer vision algorithms such as YOLOX and ByteTrack to automate the counting of people and measure distances. This allows for continuous monitoring of the quantity (carrying capacity and density) and distribution of beachgoers (degree of social distancing), as well as a functional prototype in which the indices are calculated in real time. It was observed that as density increased, Iocr showed an inverse trend, being close to 0 when approaching maximum density. The calculation of the distance between groups validated that, even with medium densities, close to the shoreline, the reference distance of 2 m was not accomplished, obtaining a very low I dis (0.18). The resulting I ocu was 0.31, validating the appropriate integration of both indices. Overall, the system's effectiveness for accurately monitoring the number of users and their distribution, and calculating the defined indices for beach management, is demonstrated. The proposed approach provides a valuable tool, allowing a more efficient management of beaches according to their actual occupancy and user distribution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Natural and nature-based features have become increasingly popular in recent years for several reasons including reduced costs and maintenance, sustainability, and ecological benefits. One such nature-based feature which contributes to coastal resiliency is dune systems. Extensive research shows that dune systems provide great value for coastal protection, with vegetation and belowground biomass emerging as crucial factors for dune stability. Alternative dune construction and dune maintenance methods are needed to improve the resilience and stability of these dune systems. Wrack, vegetation and macroalgae that naturally washes up along the coast, is often removed during routine beach maintenance, but could serve to increase dune biomass, sand trapping, and overall dune resiliency. This manuscript documents preliminary results following the placement of wrack along constructed dunes on the Mississippi mainland coast. Terrestrial lidar surveys were used to evaluate morphological responses of a 550 m stretch of the beach, with varying raking and wrack management practices implemented in designated sections. Elevation and volumetric change calculated from these data were compared across storm erosion and fair-weather recovery periods to quantify the potential benefits of utilizing natural wrack material in the dunes and reducing beach raking.

Beach management is a key issue in combating marine litter, especially in tourist areas. It is necessary to promote government initiatives that refine local autonomy to improve the quality of beaches. Partnerships between interested institutions at the local level are stimulated to fight against environmental, economic, and social problems. Marine litter, as a more holistic problem, is growing in the international and national sphere, support programs are being developed, with possible advantages at the local level. Cassino Beach in Rio Grande, Brazil, was used as a case study to evaluate the current approaches to managing marine litter, with a focus on tourism-generated litter, analyzing the weaknesses and strengths of municipal management. The case presented as weaknesses a lack of awareness and policy, administrative deficiencies, few resources, and few spaces that promote public participation. Knowledge and information, institutional competencies, partnership, and strategies appeared as strong points. It was possible to observe that the municipality of Rio Grande is assimilating problems, planning actions and few projects are being implemented.

Sand bypassing is one of the promising solutions to rectify jetty-induced coastal erosion. Estimating alongshore sediment transport rate and understanding hydrodynamic conditions at a jetty are crucial for successful downdrift erosion management. This research investigated three major jetties in Thailand (Cha Am jetty, Krai jetty, and Na Saton jetty) that protrude across the surf zone and completely intercept alongshore sediment transport. Sub-aerial and inter-tidal field surveys by Real Time Kinematic (RTK) technique were undertaken in 2019 and 2020. The collected data was processed and overlaid to calculate the amount of sediment deposition at the updrift jetty. Numerical simulations using MIKE21 SW and MIKE21 HD were carried out in order to understand how waves and water currents interacted with the jetties. From the results, we found that the Cha Am jetty trapped approximately 38,187 cu.m/yr of the alongshore sediment. While the Krai jetty intercepted approximately 34,170 cu.m/yr of the alongshore drift, and approximately 65,951 cu.m/yr of longshore sediment transport was blocked by the Na Saton jetty. Such estimated amounts of deposited sediment are the quantities that should be bypassed at each jetty. Budgets and implementation plans for sand bypassing can be prepared. Decision makers can decide how to manage updrift deposition and downdrift erosion.

Thailand’s current beach management strategies lack integration across sectors, resulting in conflicts of interest and insufficient consideration of diverse beach uses. The complexity of environmental, socio-economic, and coastal disasters challenge policymakers to describe the conditions of sandy beaches, and the most effective coastal management adaptation measures. This study suggests an integrated approach to evaluate beach conditions by incorporating the Urbanization Index, Conservation Index, and Recreation Index. Furthermore, the assessment of beach conditions will include the Threat Index, which consists of erosion rates and shoreline recession caused by sea level rise. The trends index will prioritize beach conditions for appropriate management actions. The study suggests management strategies that aim to preserve the physical and environmental aspects of the beach, while restoring its functionality for ecosystem services by applying engineering structures with beach nourishment. The main purpose of this study is to develop a beach condition that can be used as a guideline for sandy beach management in Thailand. It provides insights and recommendations to policymakers for enhancing the sustainability and resilience of Thailand’s coastal areas in the face of urbanization and climate change.

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Beaches, as a subset of coastal environments, can generate great economic values. Among various beach management strategies, laws and regulations are one of the most powerful tools, yet they are often overlooked. In China, where all beaches are public or community-owned, this study reviews the existing institutional instruments related to beach management at the national, provincial, and urban levels, including current laws, policies, and the latest 14th Five-Year Plans. Of the 127 laws and regulations identified (comprising 18 national, 53 provincial, and 56 urban ones), many lack clear definitions, adequate protection for beach-dune systems, and efficient enforcement mechanisms. This study analyzes these gaps and challenges, further suggesting improvements, such as, rectifying the legal status deficiency of beach resources, emphasizing the protection of the integrated beach-dune system, refining restricted "lines" demarcation, and improving enforcement ability. Through comprehensive analysis and practical recommendations, this study provides a roadmap for enhancing China's existing legal framework, urging for the enactment of national and local specialized legislation to protect vulnerable beach resources. It further underscores the importance of robust legislative measures in achieving long-term sustainable environment protection and development goals. These findings are expected to contribute to the improvement of beach management not only in China but also provide meaningful insights for global coastal nations and regions. • Beach management in China's legal framework was analyzed. • Gaps in current beach-related laws and policies were identified. • The importance of coastal 'lines' demarcation was highlighted. • Improvements for sustainable beach use were proposed. • The need for specialized beach legislation was stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to study the policies developed by local authorities in Spain to provide a safe environment on beaches in order to identify the strategies behind as well as the measures applied to enforce them. Our results, based on a survey of over 200 municipalities responsible for the 646 beaches awarded an ecolabel certification, the Blue Flag, reveal that the policies revolve around three axes: beach organization, reduction of items that could be a source of risk, and reduction of some types of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach visitors rate beach quality in large part by its appearance. Removal of natural beach litter (called beach wrack) has, therefore, high priority for beach managers in coastal areas dependent on revenues from tourism. Focusing on the German Baltic Sea coast, the amount of beach wrack has increased by a factor of approximately 3.4 between 1977 and 2012/2013. At the same time, the composition of macrophyte communities underwent a severe change from late successional stages (eelgrass and bladder wrack) toward more ephemeral communities. Correspondingly, the contribution of bladder wrack to seaweed litter alone dropped from 75% in 1977 to 18.1% today, while the contribution of ephemeral and nutrient-opportunistic seaweeds increased by a factor larger than 6.2 to approximately 44%. Such seaweed opportunists could have a higher potential for olfactorial nuisance than late successional macrophytes. To test this hypothesis, odors extracted from equal amounts of nutrient-opportunistic and non-opportunistic species that had been partially degraded under equal conditions were compared in a public survey. Participants graded the smell of opportunistic species, in particular Ceramium tenuicorne, consistently as more intense and less pleasant than the odor of non-opportunistic species. The particularly high potential of Ceramium litter and the relatively lower potential of eelgrass litter for deterrence were confirmed in field experiments. We conclude that the documented compositional shift in macrophyte communities at German Baltic Sea coasts since the onset of eutrophication has caused a shift of beach wrack composition toward species with a higher potential for olfactorial deterrence, which could explain recent concerns of beach managers about beach wrack despite the limited increase of biomass in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patsch, K.; King, P.; Reineman, D.R.; Jenkins, S.; Steele, C.; Gaston, E., and Anderson, S., 2021. Beach sustainability assessment: The development and utility of an interdisciplinary approach to sandy beach monitoring. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(6), 1130–1157. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Sandy beaches are valued for various ecosystem services but are increasingly imperiled by anthropogenic stressors. Sea-level rise (SLR), reductions to sand supply, hardening the position of the coastline, and the prevalence of human development along California's coast combine to reduce the fundamental dynamism critical to the resilience of California's beaches. If California continues with business as usual, many of its beaches will erode and eventually disappear. Coastal jurisdictions in California are planning for SLR. However, these coastal managers lack a standardized regional assessment tool that compiles information on the current and likely future condition of sandy beaches. Without such a tool, these managers have limited ability to analyze the integrated impacts of historic decisions or future alternative management scenarios upon beach morphology, ecological functioning, economics, and social utility. This paper presents a study of the Beach Sustainability Assessment (BSA) decision support tool applied to 17 beaches spanning Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. In addition to scoring and grading geomorphological, ecological functioning, and social utility components, the BSA provides a single, overall grade for each beach. To demonstrate the utility of the BSA, a scenario with 1 m of SLR and a 100-year storm was simulated to assess the changes to the overall grade and component grades. The BSA offers a cost-effective, standardized protocol to monitor the condition of California's sandy beach ecosystems. The metrics support spatial and temporal comparisons on a regional scale, giving coastal managers and stakeholders the ability to assess real trade-offs among management solutions. Current BSA indices indicate that beaches in the Southern California Bight study area are already struggling, with most urban beaches receiving Cs and Ds for ecological functioning. The SLR stressor test indicates that ecological functioning and social utility will continue to decline with increasing sea levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to analyse the importance of users’ perceptions and satisfaction as an indicator for future investment and management of beaches in a sustainable way. In the paper, the case study of Karpinjan beach (Novigrad) is presented. Design/Methodology/Approach – For the research, a questionnaire for beach users was developed. The field research was carried out in 2017 among beach users (tourists, visitors and residents) before the investment and again in 2018 after the investment and implementation of the Green Beach Model, within the framework of the MITOMED+ project. In 2017, 23 different elements/aspects were evaluated, and in 2018 several additional elements were added for evaluation regarding content and conditions of the beach. 245 surveys were collected on Karpinjan beach in 2017, and in 2018 additional 302. In total, 547 beach users were interviewed on Karpinjan beach. Findings – The beach users were most satisfied with the beach comfort, beautiful scenery and beach cleanliness in both years. The usefulness of specific elements, as future indicators for sustainable beach management, is discussed in the paper. Originality of the research – The developed survey and findings can help future beach managers and local destinations as a tool for sustainable destination management.

The free-floating algae known as sargassum (Sargassum fluitans and Sargassum natans) drifts onto coastlines throughout the Atlantic Ocean during spring and summer months. Beach communities seek to maintain tourist appeal and, therefore, remove or relocate the sargassum drifts once it collects on shore. Maintenance efforts have attempted to incorporate the sargassum into dunes and beach sand. However, not all communities have the resources to manage the biomass and must dispose of it in a landfill. The utility of the seaweed biomass as a fertilizer for plant growth has been renowned for centuries. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the appropriate proportion of sargassum for other compost ingredients used in a large-scale composting system to create a quality product for utilization in horticultural and/or agricultural products. This study used ≈32 yard3 of sargassum as part of 96 yard3 of compost material that also included food waste, fish waste, and wood chips. Four protocols were prepared and included either 25% or 41.5% sargassum and various proportions of food or fish waste and wood chips, which are ingredients that would be readily available in coastline communities, to determine the ideal ratios of materials to create a quality compost. Piles were turned regularly and monitored for pH, moisture, and temperatures according to compost industry standards and approximately every 5 to 7 days. Piles cured for 4 to 8 weeks and the entire composting process lasted 5 months. Samples of compost were collected and tested through the Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory’s U.S. Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Approval Program at Pennsylvania State University. All final compost products and protocols had reasonable quality similar to those required by current compost standards. However, the protocol incorporating equal parts sargassum (41.5%) and wood chips (41.5%), fish waste (4%), and food waste (13%) had the best results in terms of organic matter content and overall nutrient levels. Therefore, this study determined that waste management industries can use sargassum as a feedstock through a large-scale composting system to create a desirable compost product that could be used in the horticulture industries. Sargassum could also be composted and then returned to the shoreline, where it would help build soils and vegetation.

Composting is the biological decomposition of organic materials, such as plant tissue, food scraps, paper, animal fodder, and wood chips. The end-product, compost, is a beneficial soil amendment because it can contain a diversity of beneficial microorganisms, has high nutrient and water-holding capacities, can increase total soil porosity, and contains essential plant nutrients that improve soil productivity. Coastal regions of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Atlantic and European shorelines, have witnessed a proliferation of brown seaweed (Sargassum sp.). When piled on beaches, tourism appeal is reduced, threatening the local economy. When amassed offshore, thick brown seaweed mats can hinder fishing. Excessive decomposition rates can lead to eutrophication, which threatens coastal areas economically and environmentally. Despite these problems, seaweed may be considered a valuable compost ingredient. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a market test to determine the potential value of a seaweed-incorporated compost to consumers in Texas and to identify attributes of likely consumers. A marketing survey was developed and distributed to gardeners in the central and south Texas regions. Contingent valuation questions measured participants’ willingness to pay for the seaweed compost products. Participants were able to see, smell, and touch a sample of the compost while completing the survey. Despite 92% of respondents ranking themselves as inexperienced in compost behavior, results indicated a potential for a specialty, competitively priced seaweed-incorporated compost to be introduced to the market. Respondents were most willing to pay $4.00/ft3 to $5.00/ft3 for seaweed-incorporated compost. Additionally, participants who responded positively to buying local, buying compost in the past, having positive environmental attitudes, and buying American were more likely to pay more for the seaweed-incorporated compost. There was not an obvious pattern between willingness to pay for seaweed-incorporated compost and demographic responses.

This paper essentially aims to identify coastal sites of great scenic value not (or barely) affected by human intrusions and propose sound management interventions to improve their landscape quality. Today, management of coastal areas in Italy is a very complex task essentially because of institutional fragmentation and overlapping of laws/regulations at the national, regional and municipal levels. It is estimated that only half of the country’s beaches are freely accessible and usable for bathing, i.e., 43% are occupied by private concessions and in 7.2% bathing is not allowed because of water pollution. Sites’ scenic quality was assessed using the Coastal Scenic Evaluation System (CSES), a robust semi-quantitative methodology based on a set of 26 physical/human parameters, weighting matrices parameters and fuzzy logic mathematics. An evaluation index (D) was afterward obtained for each site and used to classify them into five scenic classes. After a long process of field testing along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian, Ionic and Adriatic seas (25 municipalities, 7 provinces and 4 regions: Campania, Basilicata, Calabria and Apulia), a total of 36 sites were selected for this paper. Twenty-four sites fall within Class I, i.e., were extremely attractive (D ≥ 0.85; CSES) because of their exceptional geomorphological settings that favour a wide variety of coastal sceneries. Most of Class II (8) and Class III (4) sites could be upgraded by implementing clean-up operations or by reducing intrusive beach facilities. Meanwhile “private” beaches are usually cleaned; beach litter at remote/public sites represents a big concern to be challenged. Today, finding a free/aesthetic/clean beach without human intrusions in a fully natural environment is far more complex than it seems. Given this context, emphasis was particularly placed on beach litter and concessions aspects.

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Transformations that occur in the coastal territory often have an important link with the construction of port infrastructures, although establishing a direct correlation between causes and effects is rarely straightforward as they are phenomena that emerge over decades. Moreover, this phenomenon is fundamentally observed in developed countries, where we also find the added difficulty that a high number of variables intervene since the coast is usually an environment that is strongly anthropized by human action whilst being an important tourist asset. This study analyzes, from a different perspective than traditional coastal engineering approaches, the existing correlation between the construction of various marinas and coastal infrastructures along the southeast of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The existing geostatistical correlation between the configuration of port areas and the coastal and socioeconomic impacts that occurred during the decades following the construction of these infrastructures was evaluated using spatiotemporal GIS indicators. The results obtained show that there are different patterns of behavior in the impact generated by port infrastructures depending on the spatial configuration of their boundary conditions, beyond the behavior of sedimentary dynamics usually studied in civil engineering.

We provide an in-depth analysis of tourists' and residents' preferences for different coastal erosion management programs in Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Using a split-sample choice experiment, we assess how preferences of respondents vary across beach segments affected by coastal erosion in different ways. The choice experiment includes protection structures against coastal erosion (groynes, concrete revetment and stair revetment), soft protection measures (beach nourishment and sandbags) and also some recreational activities usually provided by beaches (restaurants and green spaces). We find that both tourists and residents express strong preferences for a wide public beach protected by structural defenses. However, residents are only willing to financially support beaches with facilities such as trees and restaurants, whereas tourists favor more pristine beaches with only trees. Our results also reveal strong heterogeneity across respondents, especially among residents. Importantly, the paper suggests a need to account for specific characteristics of different beach segments. From a policy perspective, a tourist tax is shown to be a relevant instrument to fund coastal erosion management policies in Hoi An. • Tourists and residents are willing to pay for a coastal erosion management program. • Respondents have different views on protection measures and recreational activities. • Beach nourishment with protection structures are favored by respondents. • Specific characteristics of beach segments matter from a policy perspective. • A tourist tax can be used to fund coastal erosion management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]