ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on four parameters (among ten) that pertain to laws and regulations about land demarcation and property rights. These parameters are: Definition and delineation of the shoreline; public coastal land and its rules; coastal setback zone – definition and permitted uses; and right of access to and along the coast. The definition of the shoreline – the boundary between land and sea – takes the lead because the other three parameters usually use it as a benchmark. There are surprising variations across all four parameters. The practices in many countries do not comply with the relevant supra-national rules. For example, the public domain is fully submerged in some jurisdictions, whereas ICZM norms suggest that it should extend at least up to the sand dunes. The setback distance of 100 m from the shoreline, required by the Mediterranean ICZM Protocol, does exist in a few countries, but many fall short. Five types of accessibility are analysed: Horizontal – along the shoreline; vertical – reaching the shoreline from the hinterland; accessibility for people with disabilities; social justice in accessibility; and visual accessibility from within the city. The accessibility analysis shows progress over time, from horizonal-only to broader categories.
