Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in ...

Evaluation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe – Final Report
structure in Denmark, ICZM issues are currently low on the political
agenda. In Sweden, there is no formal process to develop and
implement ICZM in the country as the traditional approach to coastal
management and planning has been successful from an environmental
conservation standpoint. Hence the need to introduce the
ICZM approach to planning may not be considered a priority, at least
not from an environmental perspective.
Administrative Levels
In most cases, planning in the coastal zone is sectoral driven. In the
Netherlands and in Belgium a pragmatic mix seems to be installed, in
which policy is driven on a sectoral basis, but also in an issue-based
context. In contrast, Sweden has a spatial planning process which is
strongly centralized and uniform throughout the country with no
decentralization mechanisms. The sectoral approach in the United
Kingdom and Germany acts as dissector of communication between
different sectors as well as disintegrator of territorial responsibilities.
In most cases, leading administrations on land are the environmental
agencies of the respective National States and regional planning
authorities. In contrast, the sea territory falls under the National State
sovereignty mandate, in which a non-environmental Federal State
Ministry takes most of the planning responsibilities (e.g. Crown Estate
(UK), Federal Ministry for Transport & Energy (Denmark)).
Stakeholders and Their Concerns
Several different stakeholder groups on different levels act within the
North Sea region. Much of their concerns are driven by an environmental
agenda - in particular the conservation of coastal biodiversity
and the recognition of the need to safeguard areas of scenic beauty.
However other drivers such as economic growth have become more
apparent. Mainly, these pertain to facilitating economic development
of industry, tourism & recreation, trade, shipping and fisheries,
protection areas of scenic value, geological or ecological importance,
and protecting vulnerable communities against the effects of erosion
and flooding.
EU ICZM
recommendation
fostered fresh
view on the coast
Administrative
coastal zone
planning mostly
sector driven
Environmental
protection and
economic growth
key concerns of
stakeholders
On the National State level, several government departments
concerns revolve around sustainable development, environment
protection, coastal defence, fisheries and water quality, offshore oil
and gas, and offshore renewable energy. Harbours and shipping
affairs, aggregate extraction and military operations are further
concerns. Additionally, in the case of the Netherlands, the central
government has stated its concern to create more scope in central
government policy and national legislation for approaches tailored to
regional circumstances and to socio-economic aspects fully into
decision-making.
A number of executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies
have varying levels of interests and jurisdiction over the regulation
and management of the coast (e.g. English Nature (UK) or Sea
Fisheries Committees (England and Wales)).
Local governments are also key stakeholders in the coastal areas.
For instance, rural communities have a strong interest in issues
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