Conflict at the Coast (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

• Careful management of coastal regions is necessary for sustainability
• Coastal environments have multiple uses:
  • Development such as homes, shops, roads etc.
  • Nature reserves
  • Industry such as ports, fishing and aquaculture
  • Tourism
  • Agriculture
• These different activities bring people and ecosystems together and there becomes a competition for space
• Conflict arises when coastal development is given a higher priority than coastal conservation

• Coastal users and wildlife are referred to as stakeholders
• Each stakeholder has a different priority or need
  • Wildlife want an unpolluted, safe and quiet environment
  • Local residents want jobs, clean beaches, affordable housing and schools
  • Tourists want beaches, hotels, B&Bs, entertainment, holiday homes, and marinas
  • Employers want building space, offices, and factories
  • Developers want areas by the sea for tourists—hotels, duplexes, golf courses
  • Fishermen want harbours, unpolluted waters, and ease of access to the sea
  • Farmers want well-drained land, sheltered from prevailing winds
  • Government and Councils want to build offshore wind farms and coastal defences
  • Transport companies want good road networks, well-connected ports and terminals
• The different needs of stakeholders often conflict as they compete for the same resources

      Relationship between Stakeholders and Coastal Zone Issues

• The level of conflict varies depending on who and what the needs are
• This can be shown in a conflict matrix

Conflict Matrix