Applicant's Handbook and Guide to Coastal Planning in Barbados

GLOSSARY
This glossary is intended to provide the reader with definitions of some coastal
terminologies which may have been encountered in this website, or which may be
useful for coastal zone management research purposes.
• Accretion
The deposition of sediment, sometimes indicated by the seaward advance of
a shoreline indicator such as the water line, the berm crest, or the vegetation
line.
• Beach
An accumulation of loose sediment (usually sand or gravel) along the coast.
• Breakwater
A man-made structure protecting a shore area, harbour, anchorage, or basin
from waves.
• Building Setback
The County required seaward limit of major construction for a coastal
property. Building setbacks in Barbados are set at 30m (100 feet) from the
high water mark for beaches and 10m (30 feet) for cliffs measured from the
landward point of under cut.
• Coastal Defence
General term used to encompass both coast protection against erosion and
sea defence against flooding.
• Coastal Dunes
Dunes within the coastal upland, immediately landward of the active beach.
• Coastal Erosion
The wearing away of coastal lands, usually by wave attack, tidal or littoral
currents, or wind. Coastal erosion is synonymous with shoreline (vegetation
line) retreat.
• Coastal Zone
The transition zone where the land meets water; the region that is directly
influenced by marine hydrodynamic processes. Extends offshore to the
continental shelf break and onshore to the first major change in topography
above the reach of major storm waves.
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