Opening address

As an island race, the British cannot afford to lose sight of how vitally important the state of their coastline is - for a whole host of reasons economic, environmental and recreational. No-one in the UK lives more than 84 miles from the coast, and increasingly people want to live as close to it as possible. Coastal areas are subject to a range of conflicting pressures, including the most inexorable pressure of all - the sea itself. This Conference addresses many of these conflicting pressures and interests. These topics are also examined in a report on coastal zone protection and planning by the House of Commons Environment Select Committee, which the Government is studying carefully and to which MAFF will give formal response in due course. The discussions at this Conference are timely and important.