Rationalisation of decision support for integrated coastal zone management

The interdisciplinary nature of coastal management is reflected in the qualitative and quantitative multi-method approach used to identify the challenges of coastal management practice and identify methods of decision support to achieve sustainable management in the coastal zone. The research has recognised that the current system of coastal management is suboptimal. It is complex, inefficient, uncoordinated and overly bureaucratic and the coastal resource continues to be degraded and ecosystems are in a declining precarious state. Sustainability was identified as the central phenomenon of coastal management. Key factors identified as measures to achieve sustainability are the need for integration, transparency and accountability. Politics (particularly partisan) and organisations working together are key factors determining the success of coastal management projects. Poor working relationships can lead to frustration, conflict, delays, and ultimately cost resources that should be used for conservation and sustainable projects. The research revealed a significant lack of use of sound science in decision-making and considerable uncertainty faced by coastal managers. A focus emerged on the need for tools to support decision-making, planning and administration and to address uncertainty, to gather and store expert knowledge and to aid the communication between politics and science. Decision Support Systems have real practical value in supporting coastal managers to address these needs and achieve sustainable coastal management. The analysis of three DSS, MDSF, SimCoast and ERA, concluded that with improvements they could significantly support managers. A DSS specification was devised, identifying the key features of a DSS that would be required to fully support coastal mangers to undertake sustainable management of the coastal zone. The Marine Bill and proposed Marine Spatial Planning framework provide the ideal opportunity to develop a coastal management DSS.