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Between a rock and a hard place: environmental and engineering considerations when designing coastal defence structures

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 18:45 authored by Firth, LB, Thompson, RC, Bohn, K, Abbiati, M, Airoldi, L, Bouma, TJ, Bozzeda, F, Ceccherelli, VU, Colangelo, MA, Evans, A, Ferrario, F, Hanley, ME, Hinz, H, Hoggart, SPG, Jackson, JE, Moore, P, Morgan, EH, Perkol-Finkel, S, Skov, MW, Elisabeth StrainElisabeth Strain, van Belzen, J, Hawkins, SJ
Coastal defence structures are proliferating as a result of rising sea levels and stormier seas. With the realisation that most coastal infrastructure cannot be lost or removed, research is required into ways that coastal defence structures can be built to meet engineering requirements, whilst also providing relevant ecosystem services—so-called ecological engineering. This approach requires an understanding of the types of assemblages and their functional roles that are desirable and feasible in these novel ecosystems. We review the major impacts coastal defence structures have on surrounding environments and recent experiments informing building coastal defences in a more ecologically sustainable manner. We summarise research carried out during the THESEUS project (2009–2014) which optimised the design of coastal defence structures with the aim to conserve or restore native species diversity. Native biodiversity could be manipulated on defence structures through various interventions: we created artificial rock pools, pits and crevices on breakwaters; we deployed a precast habitat enhancement unit in a coastal defence scheme; we tested the use of a mixture of stone sizes in gabion baskets; and we gardened native habitat-forming species, such as threatened canopy-forming algae on coastal defence structures. Finally, we outline guidelines and recommendations to provide multiple ecosystem services while maintaining engineering efficacy. This work demonstrated that simple enhancement methods can be cost-effective measures to manage local biodiversity. Care is required, however, in the wholesale implementation of these recommendations without full consideration of the desired effects and overall management goals.

History

Publication title

Coastal Engineering

Volume

87

Pagination

122-135

ISSN

0378-3839

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Elsevier Science Bv

Place of publication

Po Box 211, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1000 Ae

Rights statement

Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems; Rehabilitation or conservation of coastal or estuarine environments