The Integrated Management of Coastal Zones is a subject of public attention around the world.Born in the United States at the beginning of the seventies of the 20th century as the need for integrated public management of the coastline, the integrated management of coastal zones tries to identify and promote measures to remedy the problems that many will face coastal areas, and the deterioration of their environmental, socio-economic and cultural resources.The Community interest in the subject has been justified in consideration of which the coastal problems have a European dimension and can not be solved by States members in isolation; on the influence of the policies and actions of the European Union in the development of coastal areas (policy regional, maritime, transport, fisheries, environment, agriculture, energy, industry); and the need for an exchange of experiences and knowledge in a field still little experienced and in which there is a public demand for substantial policy.
The EU has been taking awareness of the importance of the problematic marina and its connection with the State of the coastal zone, reflecting it finally in Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008, which establishes a framework for Community action for the policy of the marine environment (marine strategy framework directive).It sets a framework and common objectives for the protection and conservation of the marine environment by 2020, for which Member States should assess the needs of marine areas within their competence and, then they shall elaborate and implement coherent management plans in each region and ensure its follow-up.The marine strategy framework directive is an important addition in the “the water framework directive 2000/60/EC” which includes ‘coastal waters’ and ‘transitional waters’ in the unified and integrated management of the hydrological cycle, and which must therefore be of be taken into account for the appropriate ICZM, and, in particular, to achieve ‘management in accordance with the nature of ecosystems’.