Integrated Coastal Management: A comparative analysis of four UK initiatives

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2008.07.005

Applied Geography

Volume 29, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 49-62

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2008.07.005 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effectiveness of institutional arrangements and policies for governance has become a key question within the sustainability paradigm, not least in coastal areas which have unique issues and jurisdictions across the land–sea interface. In the UK, approximately 60 non-statutory coastal management initiatives have been established at the local/regional level since the 1990s, based on a variety of programmes and projects. Proposals for a UK Marine Bill have raised questions about the role of non-statutory initiatives in the system of governance. The traditional sectoral approach to management and planning is being modified due to the pressure of increased human activities, but doubts exist about what effective contribution local and regional partnerships can make. The paper reports extensive examples of Integrated Coastal Management initiatives engaging institutions and society to produce outputs which have transformed management, promoting long-term, collaborative, participatory and ecologically sustainable approaches. The paper concludes that there are demonstrable benefits in taking a partnership approach to coastal management at a local level, yet these forms of planning and management are not widely accepted or embedded within the current system of governance.

Introduction

Responsibilities for marine and coastal matters in the UK, like many other coastal developed states, are divided between a variety of government agencies and departments (Smith et al., 2008). Ballinger (2005) explains the historical development of the UK system of planning and management. A recent national stocktaking exercise for the latest EU recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) (CEC, 2007) outlined the great variety of administrative bodies and associated legislation, which work against the long-term interests of sustainable management (Atkins, 2004).

Since the 1990s, a feature of ICM implementation in the UK has been the development of local and regional coastal initiatives, through a bottom up approach, or as part of a variety of national programmes. These initiatives are largely non-statutory and rely on voluntary participation by government, private and civil society stakeholders. They operate in different types of association, including ‘Partnerships,’ ‘Networks,’ ‘Fora,’ or newly constituted authorities. They aim to reduce the sectoral divide in co-operation at a local level, by providing multi-stakeholder approaches to planning and management.

Despite their aim to improve decision-making at the coast, questions remain about their effective contribution to the overall system of governance. The traditional sectoral approach to management and planning is being modified through UK Marine Bill¹, but doubts exist about what effective contribution local and regional non-statutory initiatives can make.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of these initiatives has so far been done using indicator or performance-based approaches (Jemmett et al., 1999, Jennison, 2001, Pickaver, 2008). These measure the initiative's success against stated aims. The reviews have documented difficulties experienced in implementing strategies, as well as the lack of full engagement, insecure funding and staffing as constraining factors. Worldwide development of assessment methodologies (International Oceanographic Commission (IOC), 2006, Olsen, 2003) has sought to move beyond programme performance to consider the wider links between the work of ICM initiatives and the changes they produce. These assessments consider how initiatives bring about changes in the approach and attitudes of coastal stakeholders, and their overall contribution to sustainability and good governance. This paper presents an analysis of the effectiveness of ICM initiatives in the UK by examining the processes and mechanisms used, and considering how these contribute to sustainability at the coast.

Section snippets

Methods

The research used the approach of grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) to develop an overview of the processes and mechanisms which are used by ICM initiatives and the changes in governance which they achieve. Grounded theory is a qualitative research method which utilises a rigorous process of coding and grouping of interview data to develop explanations of the phenomena under study. Grounded theory derives theory from data by systematically working out hypotheses and concepts in relation

Results

The research found evidence for 149 processes and mechanisms in use, of which 66 were validated across all four initiatives. Processes are the activities and efforts co-ordinated by ICM initiatives which contribute to the management of the coast (for example volunteer monitoring by members of the community). Forty-two of these were found to be relevant across all cases and sectors of organisations. Mechanisms consist of the tools, networks, or structures that are used in management the coast

Conclusions

The sections above provide evidence for a mid range theory about successful Integrated Coastal Management, as encouraged by ICM initiatives in the UK and accomplished by partner organisations. The empirical data demonstrates a wide range of achievements and activities at local and regional levels. Combined together these processes and mechanisms provide a powerful and mutually consistent explanation for how ICM initiatives make a positive difference to coastal planning and management. Only

Implications

The ICM initiatives reviewed in this study have undertaken a range of work which contributes to both to strategic management (e.g. co-ordinating the actions of organisations) and technical management (e.g. improving monitoring arrangements) (Smith & Halliday, 1992). It is through an ICM initiative at the local level that agreed goals for sustainable development of the coast can be established by a process which allows stakeholders to envision aspirations for the future. These goals will be

Acknowledgements

The Authors gratefully acknowledge the information and assistance provided by Alex Midlen, Suzanne Gattrell and Beverley McClean (Essex Estuaries Initiative), Liz Allan (Ceredigion Marine Heritage Coast), Jan Brown and Steve Knowles (Severn Estuary Partnership) and Philip Couchman (Chichester Harbour Conservancy). Thanks to Alun Rogers for cartographic assistance with Fig. 1.

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Integrated Coastal Management: A comparative analysis of four UK initiatives

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Implications

Acknowledgements

Ocean and Coastal Management

Ocean and Coastal Management

Applied Geography

Ocean and Coastal Management

Ocean and Coastal Management

ICZM in the UK: A stocktake

A sea change at the coast: the contemporary context and future prospects of Integrated Coastal Management in the UK

Coastal evolution: Late quaternary shoreline morphodynamics

Coasts and countryside strategy

Chichester harbour management plan

A communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on ‘ICZM: A strategy for Europe.’

Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2002 concerning the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe

Report to the European Parliament and the Council: An evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe

A research strategy for the Essex Estuaries European marine site

The discovery of grounded theory. Strategies for qualitative research

On the pragmatics of communication

Data management and analysis methods