Halting the landward migration of an eroding coastline may impact on the health of the beach in front of it. There are many methods available to protect a coastline from erosion but very few will protect the beach itself. In some cases the beach is sacrificed to the cause of protecting the assets or structures behind it.

The following table lists and describes various coastline erosion protection options and includes some of their advantages and disadvantages.

Option Description Possible Advantages Possible Disadvantages
Seawall An engineered structure that can take many forms. Long history of use for protection of human assets & structures behind the beach. High certainty of asset protection if well designed
Cost.
Damaging to natural character.
Complex consent & environmental approval process.
Will adversely affect the beach & lower amenity value.
Revetment

Sloping hard structure designed to dissipate wave energy.

 High certainty of asset protection if well designed.
Cost.
Damaging to natural character.
Complex consent & environmental approval process.
May adversely affect the beach & lower amenity value.
Rock dumping Often an emergency measure during or immediately following storm damage. Cheaper than a seawall or revetment.
Damaging to natural character.
Difficult to get approval to place.
Will adversely affect the beach & lower amenity value.
Groyne A structure placed perpendicular to the coastline to capture & hold sand that may be available in the littoral zone. Some certainty of asset & amenity protection if well designed.
Cost.
Only suitable for specific sites.
Damaging to natural character.
May adversely affect adjacent beaches.
Sand sausage Sand filled fabric bag placed in the surf zone to ‘trip’ waves, reducing energy on the beach face Low cost relative to other hard engineering solutions.
Damaging to natural character when visible.
May lower amenity value (swimming safety?)
Artificial reef Sand filled fabric bags placed before the surf zone to ‘trip’ waves. New concept with initial focus on improved surf amenity.
Reduction of wave energy on the beach.
Improved amenity value.
Low impact on visible natural character.
Cost.
Complex consent & environmental approval process.
May adversely affect adjacent beaches.
May only be suitable for sites that meet specific criteria (wave climate, tidal range, sea bottom profile, etc).
Nourishment The placement of sand on the beach face or near to the shore to increase material in the littoral zone.
Improved amenity value.
Low impact on natural character.
Cost.
Complex consent & environmental approval process.
Suitable sand may be difficult to find.
Uncertainty regarding design life for erosion protection.
Dune care Enhancement & protection of natural dune system by planting and management.
Low cost & community involvement.
Improved natural character.
Application limited to minor erosion problems or to compliment other erosion control methods.
Managed retreat Allow landward migration of the coastline. Remove /relocate assets. Potential improvements to natural character.
Local resistance.
Financial, social & political costs.
Do nothing Or wait /monitor. Allow landward migration of the coastline. Free. If coastline erosion is problem then this is not solution.
Beach drainage www.shoregro.com See BD advantages at Shoregro website Only suitable for specific beach types & erosion sites.
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