Marine: Integrated Coastal Zone Management
The objective of Integrated Coastal Zone management (ICZM) is to establish sustainable levels of economic and social activity in our coastal areas while protecting the coastal environment. It brings together all those involved in the development, management and use of the coast within a framework that facilitates the integration of their interests and responsibilities.
Successful integrated coastal zone management may involve adopting the following principles:
- A long term view
- A broad holistic approach
- Adaptive management
- Working with natural processes
- Support and involvement of all relevant administrative bodies
- Use of a combination of instruments
- Participatory planning
- Reflecting local characteristics
EU Recommendation on ICZM
On 30 May 2002, European Member States adopted a Recommendation on implementing integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) in Europe. They were asked to undertake a national stocktaking of legislation, institutions and stakeholders involved in the management of the coastal zone and, based on this, to develop national strategies to deliver ICZM.
Member States were asked to report back to the Commission on their experience in implementing the Recommendation 45 months after its adoption.
The principles in this proposal are already part of the UK's approach to coastal policy and the Government welcomed the Recommendation as providing fresh impetus to delivering effective coastal management in Europe.
To launch the process of implementing the Recommendation and to update stakeholders on the progress of other Marine Stewardship initiatives, Defra sponsored a major conference on 14 November 2002. This was attended by 225 delegates from across the UK and Europe. A report summarising the main points from the day is available.
- Conference Report (PDF 705 KB)
The results were fed into the national stocktaking exercise which got underway in March 2003.
ICZM in the UK: A Stocktake
In 2003 Defra and the devolved administrations joined together to commission the stocktaking for the UK. Following a competitive tender, the contract for the project was awarded to a team from Atkins Water.
Workshops were held during the extensive consultation with key UK coastal organisations to test gaps between the theory of ICZM and its practical implementation.
- Workshop summary (PDF 29 KB)
The team's final report with their conclusions was published on 14 April 2004.
- ICZM in the UK: a stocktake - final report
The project summarised the current legal framework for managing activities in coastal areas and identified the key stakeholders. The Stocktake presented a mixed picture of the current level of integrated management in the UK. There were good examples at the local level where voluntary integrated action to resolve conflicts had been successful.
The Stocktake also demonstrated that coastal fora/partnerships were an effective way of moving ICZM forward at local level.
Following the UK Stocktake the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have been preparing separate draft national strategies on either ICZM or more generally on marine and coastal management. A consultation seeking views on how we can best promote and implement an integrated approach to the management of the coastal zone (ICZM) in England, was published for consultation in 2006. The summary of responses was published in June 2007.
The Government is committed to adopting an integrated approach to the coastal zone management in general, as stated in our first Marine Stewardship Report "Safeguarding our Seas", published in May 2002.
Marine Bill
The principles of ICZM will be embedded throughout any of the relevant proposals in the Marine Bill. A White Paper was issued for consultation in March 2007, the consultation has now closed.
Contact us
Email: iczm@defra.gsi.gov.uk
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Page last modified: 10 July 2007
Page published: 12 August 2002