This analysis describes the characteristics and scale of the coastal management sector, and its impact on the delivery of nature conservation objectives in England. It gives English Nature's objectives for the sector and sets out our three priority actions for 2001- 2003. We also identify the key organisations and actions needed to influence policy and its delivery.

We outline the roles of the key shapers and players within the sector, including the Flood and Coastal Defence with Emergencies Division of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities (LAs) and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DLTR).

We examine the key socio-economic and political factors that shape the sector. In particular, we look at the scale of opposition to moves away from the static protection of fixed assets, the political reaction to extreme events, the economics, and the environmental need for change.

The analysis explains that there is considerable potential for synergy between sustainable coastal defence and habitat conservation although historically, coastal defence has been a major cause of direct and indirect habitat loss.