ABSTRACT
Local governments can play a major role in management of coastal resources (Platt, 1994), but effects are highly variable and examples of bad and good management exist. Local governments may ignore the need to restrict shorefront development, reduce the likelihood of coastal hazards, protect natural coastal landscapes or build awareness about good practices (Gares, 1989; Good, 1994; Fischer et al, 1995), or they may render policies of higher levels of government ineffective because of lack of commitment (Burby and Dalton, 1993). Lack of emphasis on preservation of natural aspects of beaches and dunes is another problem (Healy and Zinn, 1985; Guilcher and Hallégouët, 1991).
