This course will introduce students to the impacts of the continuously changing relationships between human activities and ecological systems, particularly the coastal environment. Drawing from real-world case studies, students will gain practical insights into how human behaviour and responses to environmental changes impact coastal environments. Students will also analyse local and international coastal legal frameworks.

1X2 hours lecture and 1 x1 hour seminar per week

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Assessment 1 - Set Exercise (Case Study Analysis, 1,500 words: 35%) Critical analysis of a coastal environmental issue, human impacts, and the effectiveness of related coastal legislation (ILOs 1, 2 and 3)

Assessment 2 - Report (Visionary Manifesto, 2,500 words: 65%) A future-oriented manifesto for sustainable coastal management (ILOs 1, 2 and 4)

This course aims to provide students with the insights and skills to analyse how the ecological, social, and economic elements interact within coastal ecosystems, thereby equipping them with skills to manage integrated systems. Through case study analyses of local and international coastal legislation, students will also develop skills in interpreting and applying coastal regulations.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe dynamic interactions and relationships between physical, biological, and human components within coastal systems;

2. Identify and explain how activities of resource users impact coastal ecosystems;

3. Critically analyse the strengths and weaknesses of coastal legislation with reference to specific case studies;

4. Develop and communicate future-oriented strategies for sustainable coastal management