Managed retreat

Managed retreat, or coastal realignment, accepts that keeping the present coastline in place may be too costly or unsuitable. Existing defences are removed or abandoned so that the sea can flood selected land. The coastline moves inland towards higher ground or a new line of defences.

Managed retreat allows selected coastal land to flood by abandoning or removing existing defences. The sea moves inland until it reaches higher ground or a new line of defences. Rather than trying to preserve the old shoreline, management accepts and plans for change.