Estuaries and Shoreline Management Plans – lessons learned from Round 2.

As we now approach the completion of the 2nd round Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) this paper provides a review of the implementation of the estuary guidance and lessons learned during its application. In particular, emphasis is placed on the need to retain flexibility within the estuary assessment process rather than applying a prescriptive approach with each estuary and corresponding assessment considered on a case by case basis. The review has drawn upon experience gained through the completion of a number of SMPs and estuaries around England and Wales. Although the points raised here apply directly to the UK they are also applicable to the management and understanding of estuaries throughout the world.