1998 Year of the Ocean Coastal Tourism and Recreation 



Through the federal CZM program, coastal states build in their own regulatory 

 approaches such as construction setback lines, storm-resistant building codes, acquisition 

 programs for hazardous areas, and the like. Recognizing the connections that should exist 

 between the planning and management efforts under CZM, and cognizant of the lessons being 

 learned during storm events by the emergency management programs, NOAA and FEMA are 

 initiating a series of workshops to strengthen the coordination between these programs. 



Advanced planning and follow-up are required to maintain a safe and secure environment 

 for visitors. Tourists take their safety for granted when they go to the beach or visit a coastal 

 resort or even rent a sailboat for the day.. Yet the coast is inherently a place with real risks, even 

 under good weather conditions. Swimmers can drown and boats can collide or go aground, 

 poisonous jellyfish can sting. And, of course, episodic large storms and hurricanes can have 

 devastating consequences in coastal areas heavily populated with visitors. 



Increasing numbers of Americans find themselves on the nation's waterways in 

 connection with recreational boating, fishing, traveling to and from coral reefs for snorkeling and 

 diving, and so on. Maintaining an adequate level of safety and accident prevention requires 

 properly marked channels, rescue services, oversight of boating safety requirements (e.g., life 

 jackets and other emergency equipment), and monitoring and enforcement of boating operations, 

 including so-called "thrill craft." While some of these duties can be performed by local and state 

 authorities, the maintenance of safe and well-marked waterways and maritime safety in general 

 has traditionally been a federal government responsibility. In any event, the federal government 

 is in the best position to ensure than an adequately comprehensive safety program is in place in 

 coastal areas. The U.S. Coast Guard is the primary federal agency with responsibility for coastal 

 search and rescue, enforcement of maritime laws, and maintenance of a national waterw ay 

 marking system. The Coast Guard is also the coordinator of the national recreational boating 

 safety program aimed at ensuring the safety of boats and associated equipment, and their safe 

 operation by boaters. Through the production of accurate nautical charts and related products, 

 NOAA provides essential information for navigating the nation's coastal waters. 



Beach Restoration Programs 



The federal government, acting through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has long 

 played an important role in the maintenance and restoration of the nation's beaches and shores. 

 Experience in shore protection efforts has shown that soft solutions involving beach re- 

 nourishment have produced better, more economical results than hard solutions such as seawalls 

 and groins in many circumstances. 



Seawalls and revetments first developed as the field of coastal engineering emerged. , 

 While these measures are often successful at protecting the development and infrastructure 

 behind a beach, they do not address the real cause of beach erosion, which is a lack of sediment 

 in the system. As understanding of coastal systems has grown through research and data 

 collection programs, solutions to such problems has progressed. Today, beach re-nourishment 

 represents a sound engineering solution that is economically feasible and environmentally 



F-14 



