Conflicts of interest

There are many different land uses found in coastal areas - for example, tourism, industry, fishing, trade and transport. This means that there are many different groups of people who have an interest in what happens in coastal areas and how they are managed.

Tourist beach in Phuket

Some of the common interest groups involved in coastal management issues are:

• Local residents
• Environmental groups
• Developers
• Local councils
• National governments
• Tourist boards
• National Parks Authorities, such as the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority

Each of these interest groupsinterest groups: an organisation of people who support or oppose a common cause and often lobby the government to try to achieve their cause. Also called pressure groups. may have a different view about what should be done to protect and manage coastal areas. A difference of opinion can cause conflictconflict: disagreements between different interest groups between interest groups.

There are many reasons why groups of people might be concerned about the coast:

• Erosion is threatening beaches or coastal settlements.
• People want to develop tourism in the area - or existing tourism is declining.
• There is a danger of flooding if sea-levels rise.
• There is a problem with sewage and/or pollution.