Coastal zone management involves managing coastal areas to balance environmental, economic, human health, and human activities. ... The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) was passed in 1972 and provided a formal structure to address the challenges of continued growth in coastal areas.

What did the Coastal Zone Management Act do?

This act, administered by NOAA, provides for the management of the nation's coastal resources, including the Great Lakes. The goal is to “preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore or enhance the resources of the nation's coastal zone.”

What was the coastal zone protection?

The key goals of the National CZM program include: “protecting natural resources, managing development in high hazard areas, giving development priority to coastal-dependent uses, providing public access for recreation, coordinating state and federal actions”.