Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is widely advocated at all levels of governance as a means of delivering sustainable development in coastal areas. Local level ICZM includes agency-led initiatives, local pilot projects and bottom-up approaches. Currently there is no over-arching national coastal management policy to provide any steer for management. The potential for local government involvement in this approach is emphasised, particularly in bottom-up and local projects which foster strengthened management capacity within local government with limited resource implications.
There are many complex jurisdictional issues in the Irish context, the potential for improved coastal management, through continued local government involvement in ICZM networks and local projects, as well as through the implementation of the European Integrated Maritime Policy and Marine Strategy Framework Directive are yet to be developed to their full potential. Current political and scientific support at national and EU levels give an additional impetus to climate research and actions which may bring additional opportunities and resources to coastal governance in Ireland.