The European Principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and coastal erosion management: Fit for purpose?

The European Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management contains a set of eight management principles. The six core principles form two groups, one concerned with strategic goals and one that has a local focus. The principles are presented as a menu of free-standing options, with no prioritization either within or between groups. In the case of coastal erosion management these characteristics result in irreconcilable conflicts. The principles require clarification, prioritization of the strategic principles and recognition that they are an indivisible integrated set which should not be used to select principles to advance a particular agenda.