Theoretical strategy considerations for beach management

Abstract

With increasing leisure time and opportunity and raised quality expectations, beach and bathing-related recreational management has become an increasingly important component of Integrated Coastal Area Management. Unfortunately, scientific literature appears to have allocated scant regard to such management needs and rarely in a comprehensive manner. Considerations of strategic management were reviewed and four key components identified relevant to beach and shoreline management. These were, analysis, planning, management and monitoring. In this context, dimensional analysis, comprising of five main aspects (substantive, spatial, temporal, quantitative and qualitative) was discussed in detail and presented as a management tool allowing improved definition of scale and scope of bathing environment-related problems, a clearer assessment of beach characteristics influenced by natural coastal dynamics and anthropogenic use and formulation of effective management strategy. The outcome from the development of management tools specifically addressing beach and bathing area needs are manifold, as they provide an opportunity to positively influence a plethora of social, economic and ecological issues at the coast (e.g. recreation, shoreline defence, wildlife habitats, data collection, conflict resolution, local community involvement and planning for sustainable development).