Prior to the 1990s, coastal management was carried out on a very local scale. At Bournemouth, a large groyne was built so that longshore drift would replenish the sand at the beach. This, however, caused destructive waves to have greater effect on cliff faces, so beaches further downdrift were starved of sediment, so it was an unsustainable approach to coastal management. Since then, therefore, the focus of coastal management has been on sustainability. The UK government works to make management more sustainable, and policies are also developed on a global level for an integrated approach.
