What is it about?
The article examines the purpose, geomorphological effects, and persistence of artificial beach nourishment interventions in the low-energy coastal environment of the Puck Lagoon, Poland. The nourishment projects were primarily driven by socio-economic and recreational interests rather than coastal protection needs, as the natural beaches showed no evidence of erosion hazards. The artificial beaches exhibited exceptional stability, with minimal morphological changes observed over two years despite multiple storm surges, due to the lagoon’s low-energy hydrodynamic conditions. Nourishment altered the natural beach composition, replacing heterogeneous habitats with a homogeneous sandy surface and causing the loss of valuable ecosystem services within the protected Natura 2000 site. The authors propose a decision-making framework that integrates geomorphological, ecological, and socio-economic criteria to guide sustainable nourishment planning in similar low-energy, sheltered coastal environments.
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Why is it important?
This study presents a unique case, as artificial beach nourishments are rarely carried out and investigated in sheltered, low-energy coastal environments, which remain understudied and often overlooked in coastal research. By documenting both the exceptional stability of nourished beaches, contrary to examples from the literature. The ecological costs of habitat loss within a Natura 2000 site highlight the need for more balanced planning. The proposed decision-making framework enables coastal managers to integrate geomorphological, ecological, and socio-economic factors, making the findings broadly relevant for the sustainable management of lagoons and other low-energy coasts worldwide.
Perspectives
This study demonstrates that nourished beaches in low-energy lagoons can remain remarkably stable, providing a rare and valuable example from an understudied coastal environment. However, their true resilience can only be confirmed through long-term monitoring, as major changes may occur in response to rare, high-magnitude storms or rising sea levels. The persistence observed here may not be directly transferable to other low-energy coasts, where local geomorphology, seabed structure, and hydrodynamic conditions differ. Future research should therefore extend observations over decades, integrate ecological surveys with geomorphological monitoring, and test the proposed decision-making framework in diverse sheltered settings. These steps are crucial for building adaptive coastal management strategies that balance tourism, conservation, and natural stability in a changing climate.
PhD Patryk Sitkiewicz
University of Gdańsk
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Beach Nourishment on Low-Energy Coasts: Purpose and Persistence (Puck Lagoon, Poland), Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, September 2025, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109543.
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