Progress in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Northern Ireland

The history of development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Northern Ireland is described here in the context of European and UK initiatives. The current structures for ICZM in Northern Ireland involve a formal strategy. This involves a number of specific actions in the environmental, social, and economic spheres with specific goals pertaining to integration. The strategy has been agreed by all responsible organisations (both governmental and NGOs), and each action is time-bound and has an identified responsible agency. The Northern Ireland Coastal and Marine Forum (NICMF) which consists of non-governmental members, has the task of monitoring the implementation of the strategy and acting as a catalyst for integration. The strengths of the current structure lie in the presence of an integrating ICZM strategy and the fact that the initiative is government-led in response to the EU Recommendation on ICZM. These provide better levels of sustainability and links to the statutory system of governance compared to the partnership model in Great Britain. Its main weaknesses are: (i) that the NICMF relies on voluntary participation; (ii) linkages between government departments have not been substantially improved; and (iii) weak mechanisms for ensuring goals are achieved.